Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Parchment Paper
2010s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s German Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 2000s Philippine Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1880s Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Mexican Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Plywood
18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 19th Century Dutch Baroque Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
17th Century English William and Mary Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic, Rosewood
18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century American Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1840s British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
19th Century American American Classical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Poplar, Pine
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
18th Century English George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut, Ebony, Satinwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Mid-18th Century George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Mid-20th Century European Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Mid-19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1940s American Streamlined Moderne Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
20th Century William and Mary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-19th Century Baltic Baltic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1940s Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
Late 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass, Nickel
1880s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1950s Danish Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Shagreen Stingray
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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.