Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
Early 19th Century Italian Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Leather
1860s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Glass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century American Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1790s English Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1780s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1960s Indian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak, Pine
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
1750s German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Boxwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1880s Scottish Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nutwood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1760s English George I Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1850s American Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Cherry, Maple
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
18th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Mirror
1980s American Chippendale Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Unknown Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century English William and Mary Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1760s Swiss Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1890s French Industrial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
1840s British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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.