Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1860s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
19th Century English Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
1960s Pakistani Anglo-Indian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century British Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Ash
19th Century British Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1860s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1820s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1820s British Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Walnut, Burl
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
2010s Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Teak
19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Olive
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Chinese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1980s Unknown Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Reclaimed Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 18th Century British George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American French Provincial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 20th Century American Chippendale 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.