Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Pine
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s English Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Reclaimed Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Shell
Mid-20th Century Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century British Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1910s Hungarian Rustic Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 2000s European Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1970s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Late 20th Century American American Classical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
1980s American Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century Lebanese Moorish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century American Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1990s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
2010s Belgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1950s French Industrial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Plexiglass, Maple
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1940s Danish Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1860s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1860s Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1920s Italian Louis XIV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century European Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
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.





