Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Scrap Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Wood
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Mahogany, Rosewood, Walnut
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cut Glass, Oak
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Wood, Walnut
2010s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Raffia, Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
2010s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Art Glass, Mirror, Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
2010s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
2010s Spanish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
2010s Turkish Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lucite, Wood, Burl
1990s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
2010s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Stainless Steel
Early 2000s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Cane
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Mirror, Mahogany, Oak, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s German Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
2010s Danish Bauhaus Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
2010s American Jacobean Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s British Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s Philippine Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
2010s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Shagreen Stingray
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
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.