Commodes and Chests of Drawers
2010s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Art Glass, Mirror, Murano Glass
1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century European Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century American Primitive Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Mother-of-Pearl
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nutwood, Spruce
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Magnets
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century Swedish Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Mirror
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
1810s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century American Federal Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century American American Classical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1820s German Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1950s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
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.