Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1960s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1950s American Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s Unknown Organic Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Cane, Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1920s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century American Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
17th Century English William and Mary Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive, Walnut
Early 1800s Belgian Romantic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1930s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood, Ceramic, Mirror
Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
Mid-19th Century European Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Bronze
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century American American Classical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1780s English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Satinwood
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1920s English Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass, Bronze
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
18th Century English Queen Anne Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
19th Century English Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1790s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
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.