Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 18th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Bronze
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Belgian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
19th Century Belgian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Paint
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1760s Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut
1960s American Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Softwood
16th Century Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1880s German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
1960s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1850s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Siena Marble
20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Serpentine
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
18th Century Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
20th Century Portuguese Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
19th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut
19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1790s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Fruitwood
Late 18th Century Belgian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
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.