Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 1700s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 2000s American Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron, Metal
1780s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble
1990s American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 20th Century American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Early 1900s French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century English Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Oak, Walnut
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
1830s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Granite, Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Unknown Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Poplar
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-19th Century American Rustic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cherry
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
Late 20th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Parchment Paper
1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
1940s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Ming Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bakelite, Birch
Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Wood
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gold
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
1980s American Chippendale Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Italian Rococo Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
20th Century French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
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.