Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1910s Swedish Jugendstil Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash
Mid-18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Sapele Wood
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s Swedish Jugendstil Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1800s Swedish Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Early 19th Century Austrian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 18th Century Dutch Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Baltic Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Late 20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver, Silver Leaf
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1800s German Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1790s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Boxwood, Nutwood
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century German Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 17th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s American Neoclassical Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Mirror, Wood
Early 1800s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1810s Russian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Fruitwood
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Walnut
Early 19th Century American American Classical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Pine
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar
Late 19th Century Italian Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1790s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Palisander
18th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1980s Neoclassical Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
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.