Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
1930s Chinese Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1950s British Colonial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo
Late 18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s American Rustic Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
1960s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
19th Century British Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 17th Century English William and Mary Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Unknown Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1810s Sheraton Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
1980s Romanian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s Brutalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
2010s Philippine Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Walnut
1820s American Federal Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gold Plate, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1930s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 1800s George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 2000s European Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
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.





