Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1880s Swedish American Classical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Teak
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
1740s English George I Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1800s Danish Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Indian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Copper, Sheet Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
2010s Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1930s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Lithuanian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1930s Italian Rococo Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
1820s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1950s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 20th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century English Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1850s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint, Pine
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s Italian Brutalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Hardwood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
1880s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Late 18th Century American Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Palisander
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, 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.