Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1940s Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1970s Italian Brutalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 1900s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1980s Unknown Organic Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Cane, Mahogany
20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Early 2000s European Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
18th Century English Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1970s American Spanish Colonial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Fruitwood
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1780s English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass, Steel
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 18th Century English George II Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut, Holly
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Walnut, Burl
Late 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century American Renaissance Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Burl, Walnut
1910s Italian Baroque Revival Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 1800s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1860s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1800s Belgian Romantic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
Mid-20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century Belgian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 18th Century Queen Anne Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century English Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Birch
1970s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
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.