Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Early 2000s American Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
1820s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1890s Danish Mid-Century Modern Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
17th Century Spanish Rustic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chestnut
1940s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1740s English George I Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century Canadian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
2010s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century American Federal Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Dutch Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 2000s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century Unknown Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
1910s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Irish George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Grasscloth, Wood
1780s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Belgian Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1930s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Wood
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
19th Century English Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Late 19th Century Italian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Hungarian Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Art Glass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1830s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern 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.