Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century Belgian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1870s English Chippendale Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Early 18th Century Balkan Charles X Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Baltic Baltic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1760s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1780s American American Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1800s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Siena Marble
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Régence Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
1830s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 1800s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 18th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1850s English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Austrian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century American Empire Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Mahogany, Maple
1810s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century British Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1740s German Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ivory, Tapestry, Walnut
1790s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Alligator
Early 1800s Italian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech, Pine
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Yew
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.