Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1950s European Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century American Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1940s Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Italian Adam Style Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood, Burl
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
2010s Philippine Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1810s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Birch, Burl
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s American Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1770s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Fiberglass, Wood, Lacquer
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1880s English Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Moldovan Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
15th Century and Earlier English Medieval Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
20th Century German Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
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.