Commodes and Chests of Drawers
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Copper, Sheet Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Copper, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper, Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal, Copper
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal, Brass
2010s Philippine Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Copper, Sheet Metal
2010s Indian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s German Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
2010s Philippine Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Walnut
2010s Philippine Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Reclaimed Wood
1990s French Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather
2010s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s Philippine Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Canvas, Wood
2010s German Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Acrylic, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 2000s Unknown Renaissance Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Czech Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Crystal, Bronze, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Acrylic, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Antique and Vintage Chests of Drawers and Commodes for Sale on 1stDibs
Is it 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 a 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.
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.