Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 1900s Hungarian Baroque Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Sycamore, Walnut, Pine
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Early 1900s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1910s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1910s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Early 1900s Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1910s Norwegian Art Nouveau Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Norwegian Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 1900s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s British Queen Anne Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 1900s Romanian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Steel
Early 1900s French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 1900s Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Italian Folk Art Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fir, Wood
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Rustic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s Spanish Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
1910s Spanish Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s French Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1910s Danish Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 1900s American Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Early 1900s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nutwood
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1910s Italian Futurist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal
Early 1900s French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
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.