Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Burl
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-19th Century Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s American Rococo Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century German Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood, Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Yew
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1860s Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Belgian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 1800s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Fruitwood, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Birch
1830s English Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Softwood
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Cherry
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century European Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Iron
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1730s French Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1930s Italian Rococo Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive, Walnut
19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
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.