Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century American Primitive Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
2010s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1770s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
1810s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1890s Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century Eastlake Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
19th Century American Federal Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1950s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Late 18th Century French Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1950s American Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1950s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Stainless Steel
1820s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1940s Gothic Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1820s German Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century British Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cane, Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nutwood, Spruce
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century English Jacobean Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Oak
Late 19th Century Korean Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Mother-of-Pearl
1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1980s Chinese Export Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century European Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
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.