Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1920s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Belgian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble
1920s British Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1860s Norwegian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Industrial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Baltic Baltic Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood, Walnut
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
1850s English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Early 1800s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1800s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1830s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Bronze
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1840s Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1810s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1840s Chinese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 19th Century Danish Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1820s Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1850s Swedish Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
19th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1880s Danish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 1800s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
19th Century British High Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
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.