Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1940s French French Provincial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1840s English William IV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Late 18th Century Chinese Qing Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1760s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1880s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century French Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1940s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Rosewood
Late 20th Century Philippine Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
1780s German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Walnut
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx, Marble, Quartz, Travertine, Brass
1940s Japanese Organic Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bakelite, Birch
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Ormolu
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-19th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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.





