Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
Mid-20th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
1980s Italian Organic Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cane, Hardwood, Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Pine
Late 19th Century Hungarian Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1940s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Spanish Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Granite, Marble, Bronze
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1970s French Post-Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
1950s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Unknown Primitive Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1860s French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Italian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century European British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Rattan, Reed, Willow
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1930s Italian Rococo Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1940s Japanese Organic Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble, 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.