Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1940s American Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1830s George IV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
20th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bakelite, Walnut, Plywood
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple, Ebony
19th Century American Federal Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 19th Century Danish Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Swedish Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Charles X Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1980s Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Wood
1980s American Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash, Burl
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Burl
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1770s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel, Nickel
Early 1900s French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century American Rustic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cherry
Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron, Metal
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1880s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
1980s Italian Minimalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century English Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Oak, Walnut
Late 20th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
1960s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian 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.