Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hickory
1930s British Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Early 20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Chinese Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s French Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
1840s English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1870s English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1890s English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century French Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1870s English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Giltwood, Paint
Early 20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Hardwood, Oak
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Indian Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
1860s British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Italian Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century French Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s Canadian Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Unknown Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s Swedish Arts and Crafts Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s English Arts and Crafts Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1940s English Campaign Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique and Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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 and double chests — tallboys and highboys, which were essentially one chest on top of another — 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. 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.