Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American French Provincial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s British Georgian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Wood
20th Century Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Late 18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gesso, Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Mid-18th Century Peruvian Spanish Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1830s German Adam Style Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Early 20th Century Finnish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Plywood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s French Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century English Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s English Chippendale Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Formica, Laminate, Wood
Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s French Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut, Pine
1850s Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1980s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Resin
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 19th Century American Sheraton Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1750s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
2010s Asian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
1930s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1890s British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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.