Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1820s American American Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1910s French Directoire Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1880s Chinese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Swedish Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1800s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx, Marble, Brass
18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Bronze
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century English Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bouclé, Walnut
1770s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
1970s American Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Chrome
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Magnets
1980s American Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Late 19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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.