Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1920s American Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
19th Century Belgian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Yew
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1820s Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
2010s American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Siena Marble
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Burl
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1820s European Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century European Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood, Walnut
1850s Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1860s Norwegian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood, Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Belgian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Paint
16th Century Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
1930s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
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
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Kingwood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
1960s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1800s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Fruitwood, Oak
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.