Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Raffia, Rattan
Early 2000s French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Early 2000s French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Rattan
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan
Early 20th Century American Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
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.