Commodes and Chests of Drawers
2010s Ukrainian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stainless Steel
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Mahogany
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic, Rosewood
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Brass
18th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1950s American French Provincial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1840s Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
1950s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s American Georgian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bouclé, Walnut
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
18th Century English Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Early 19th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s American Streamlined Moderne Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Teak
Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather
Early 20th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century English Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s Mexican Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Art Glass
Antique and Vintage Chests of Drawers and Commodes for Sale: Find Art Deco Commodes and Mid-Century Modern Chests of Drawers on 1stDibs
Shopping for a commode or a chest of drawers?
Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote any case piece with a particularly intricate design. The commode dates to circa 1700 France, where it was used as an alternative to a taller cabinet piece so as to not obscure paneled, mirrored or tapestried walls. Coffers, or chests, which were large wooden boxes with hinged lids and sometimes stood on ball feet, preceded chests of drawers, a fashionable cabinet furnishing that garnered acclaim for its obvious storage potential and versatility. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot.
As time passed, French and British furniture makers led the way in the production of chests of drawers, and features like the integration of bronze and ornamental pulls became commonplace. Antique French commodes in the Louis XV style were sometimes crafted in mahogany or walnut, while an Italian marble top added a sophisticated decorative flourish. This specific type of case piece grew in popularity in the years that followed.
So, what makes a chest of drawers different from a common dresser? Dressers are short, and chests of drawers are overall taller pieces of furniture that typically do not have room on the top for a mirror as most dressers do. Tallboys and highboys are variations of the dresser form. Some chests of drawers have one column of four to six long drawers or three long drawers in their bottom section that are topped by a cluster of small side-by-side drawers on the top. To further complicate things, we sometimes refer to particularly short chests of drawers as nightstands.
Even though chests of drawers are commonly thought of as bedroom furniture to store clothing, these are adaptable pieces. A chest of drawers can house important documents — think of your walnut Art Deco commode as an upgrade to your filing cabinet. Nestle your chest near your home’s front door to store coats and other outerwear, while the top can be a place to drop your handbag. Add some flair to your kitchen, where this lovable case piece can hold pots, pans and even cookbooks.
When shopping for the right chest of drawers for your home, there are a few key things to consider: What will you be storing in it? How big a chest will you need?
Speaking of size, don’t dream too big. If your space is on the smaller side, a more streamlined vintage mid-century modern chest of drawers, perhaps one designed by Paul McCobb or T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, may best suit your needs.
At 1stDibs, we make it easy to add style and storage to your home. Browse our collection of antique and vintage commodes and chests of drawers today.