Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak, Paint
19th Century English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cherry
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1950s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
1960s Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1950s Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1980s American Rococo Revival Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1980s American Chippendale Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
1790s George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s French Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1950s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s American Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer, Hardwood
18th Century European Renaissance Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1950s French French Provincial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1950s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1870s American Eastlake Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1990s American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century American Renaissance Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Burl, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1750s English George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1880s Italian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Portuguese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Jacaranda
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1930s British Georgian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Mother-of-Pearl
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
20th Century Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
2010s Polish Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
1970s Italian Brutalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1750s German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century British Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
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.