Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1950s European Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1750s Swiss Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Wood, Plexiglass
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Faux Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
1990s Mexican Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1940s American Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1950s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Giltwood, Lacquer
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Hardwood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Oak
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Early 19th Century French Aesthetic Movement Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Hungarian Folk Art Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Czech Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s Italian Rococo Revival Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Burl
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Late 19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1700s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1870s Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1980s American Chippendale Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1930s American Streamlined Moderne Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Wood, Walnut
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1810s French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
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.