Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1760s Swiss Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Maple
18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1780s German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1870s English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1980s American Baroque Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1870s English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
2010s German Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Acrylic, Hardwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
1980s American Baroque Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Mid-19th Century Welsh High Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine
1980s American Baroque Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fabric, Wood
1860s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1860s Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Mid-20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s British Victorian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood, Paint
1890s Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
17th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
20th Century European Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Portuguese Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Mid-19th Century Maltese Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
18th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
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.