Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bakelite, Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Paint
18th Century British Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1750s German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Boxwood
Early 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century Italian Rustic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1990s American Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cane, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Canadian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Faux Leather, Wood
19th Century British High Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1790s Dutch Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 18th Century English William and Mary Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
18th Century and Earlier British George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
20th Century American Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-17th Century British Charles II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Argentine Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century American Mid-Century Modern Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1940s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Italian Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1760s Swiss Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Gustavian 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.