Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 18th Century Italian Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cut Glass, Maple
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Walnut, Burl
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Copper
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1940s Danish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Plywood
Late 20th Century European British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Rattan, Reed, Willow
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Fruitwood
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1880s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Wood, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany
19th Century Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Olive
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1970s Swedish Minimalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1720s French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1790s Dutch Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1960s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
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.