Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1780s Balkan Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-18th Century European Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
18th Century Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
1770s Swedish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1880s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1760s Swiss Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1760s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Olive
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-18th Century English Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1660s English Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1690s Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Ebony, Rosewood
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century English Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1720s Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1990s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Satinwood
Early 18th Century European Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1960s American Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Siena Marble, Bronze
1940s European Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1750s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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.