Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1950s Polish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s Polish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Teak
1960s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal, Chrome
19th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s American Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1780s German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
1930s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Satinwood
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Maple, Nutwood, Rosewood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1780s European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Goatskin
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1930s Polish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
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.