Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1780s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1770s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian American Classical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Moorish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Moorish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century French George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1770s English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Moorish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Italian Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Zinc
1780s German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Linen
Late 18th Century British Hepplewhite Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Italian Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1780s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Spanish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1780s European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1770s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s British Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Tulipwood, Walnut
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
Early 2000s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Goatskin
21st Century and Contemporary French Futurist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Shell
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century American Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Portuguese Rococo Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s Spanish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Danish Empire Antique 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.