French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
to
417
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1,468
875
2,297
84
15
528
383
107
105
82
69
31
27
20
16
15
10
10
9
6
3
2
565
1,012
719
99
256
278
79
45
15
47
51
50
33
34
43
10
6
2,257
1,103
834
795
546
7,819
2,396
1,787
1,719
1,698
2,396
2,331
2,362
19
13
12
9
8
Place of Origin: French
19th C. French Neoclassic Marble Top Commode w/Brass Hardware, Grey
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Neoclassical French carved and painted wood commode, with original marble top, from the 19th century. This antique chest from France features its original marble top with rounded f...
Category
19th Century Neoclassical Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Large Early 19th Century Empire Chest Of Drawers, Mahogany, Ormolu, Paris, 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Large Empire chest of drawers
Paris
Mahogany
Early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 97 x 136 x 68 cm
Description:
The architecturally designed front of the chest of drawers is divided into three zones.
A plinth connected to the floor forms the lower section, on which two sturdy columns rest, supporting the upper section, which houses a large drawer. Three further drawers are housed in the centre section of the chest of drawers, which recedes behind the columns.
A black granite top forms the upper end.
The drawers, the back panel and the body are made of oak, except for the panels in the side walls.
The top section with the ledge drawer is connected to the body with wooden wedges and can be removed for transport. This detail can be clearly seen in one of the photos.
Exquisitely beautiful mahogany veneer, horizontally mirrored on the drawers at the height of the key entrances, enlivens the smooth surfaces on which the lavishly gilded bronzes unfold their effect.
Some of the very finely crafted fittings can also be found on Empire furniture by Jacob...
Category
Early 19th Century Empire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Belle Epoque Period Mahogany and Sèvres Porcelain Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French mahogany period Belle époque commode. Fine ormolu mounts and Sèvres Porcelain plaques.
Category
Late 19th Century Belle Époque Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Kingwood
André ARBUS (1903-1969), chest of drawers known as “Pantalonnière”
By André Arbus
Located in Paris, FR
André Arbus (1903-1969), a French cabinetmaker and decorator, is recognized for his refined neoclassical style that blends elegance and tradition. Trained at the Beaux-Arts and roote...
Category
1930s Neoclassical Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood, Parchment Paper
French 18th Century Regence Lyonnaise Commode Made of Walnut, Bronze dOre Mounts
Located in New Orleans, LA
This 18th century Lyonnaise commode is simply exquisite. The piece is made of walnut in the Regence in style and features three drawers, all with the original bronze d’ore handles and escutcheons. The walnut top is contoured beautifully, and the front, three drawers, scroll feet, and contoured bottom are all beautifully hand carved.
This piece is a collection of a fourth generation, family owned business in New Orleans called The French Antique Shop. The store was first opened by Marie and Marcel Granet in Paris when they married in 1927. A jewish family, they came to the United States before the outbreak of the Second World War, leaving on the last boat out of Paris' port, Le Havre. When they reached New Orleans, they fell in love with the Vieux Carre...
Category
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
Raymond Loewy DF-2000 Valet, France
By Doubinsky Freres, Raymond Loewy
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Raymond Loewy DF-2000 valet, France.
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mirror, Plastic, Laminate, Wood
Small chest with four drawers, by Joseph-André Motte, Paris, France, circa 1960
By Atelier Charron, Joseph-André Motte
Located in Paris, FR
Four-drawer chest by Joseph André Motte, Charron editor.
This chest is veneered in red wood and the legs are in solid red wood.
Width: 90 cm (35.4 inches)
Depth: 52 cm (20.5 inches)
...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Charlotte Perriand Pine Chest of Drawers for Les Arcs, France 1960s
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Almelo, NL
Charlotte Perriand Chest of Drawers for Les Arcs, France 1960s
This is a description of a pine chest of drawers that was designed ...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Pine
A French Directoire Gilt Bronze Mounted Commode with Marble Top, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Directoire Gilt Bronze Mounted Parquetry Commode With Marble Top, 19th Century
Provenance: Private Australian Collection Acquired in 1...
Category
19th Century Directoire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Server Commode
By François Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French Louis XVI style mahogany and gilt-bronze mounted two-door and two-drawer server commode with a brêche violette marble top, in the manner of François Linke (1855-1946). The twin front doors, concealing a single shelf interior, each centered with an applied spray of flowers and hummingbirds...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Exquisite Bar Cabinet Attributed to Claude Vassal, circa 1950
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning bar cabinet attributed to Claude Vassal, France, circa 1950. Striking wedge shaped rosewood case with drop-front doors clad in goatskin. Magnificent hand-carved Walnut mot...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French Pine Four-Drawer Chest
Located in Wilson, NC
French pine four-drawer chest has the original working lock and key, and the top edge has bull nose shaping. The top drawer breaks out slightly over the lower three drawers. The base...
Category
1860s Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Mid-Century Walnut Inlaid Chests
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Mid-Century walnut inlaid 3-drawer chests. Each drawer having two square shaped pulls with a circular cut out in the center for grip. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XV Fruitwood Commode with Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Louis XV bombe form commode in fruitwood with three (3) drawers, cabriole feet, and red marble top, France, circa 1750.
Category
1750s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
18th c Régence walnut commode
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
One of a kind piece of exceptional quality. Carved French Régence walnut commode. Has original hardware and a wonderful patina. Carved drawer...
Category
Early 18th Century Régence Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Horizontal and vertical curved French 1930s Art Deco Sideboard in Black Lacquer
Located in Ulm, DE
Sideboard with curved sides in typical shape.
The front is also curved both horizontally and vertically
Furniture in Black Lacquer, high g...
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Fine 18th Century French Regence Period Walnut Commode with Ormolu Mounta
Located in Charleston, SC
Fine 18th century French Regence period walnut and ormolu mounted commode or chest of drawers. Three drawers over two. Great quality ormolu bronze mounts and pulls. Few old charming ...
Category
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Commode after the Model by Leleu by François Linke, circa 1910
By François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An important Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted commode, after the model by Jean-Francois Leleu by François Linke.
French, circa 1910.
Linke index number: 1127.
Linke title: 'Commode Louis XVI, Bois d'amarante et de rose.'
Signed ‘Linke’ to the right-hand side chute.
This distinguished commode is quarter veneered in mahogany with bois de violette banding and boxwood stringing. It is furnished with finely cast gilt-bronze mounts and surmounted by a brèche violette marble top.
It appears that Linke bought the rights to make this commode from the Vente Cueunières in 1902, although there is no trace of it being made by him until the summer of 1908 and there is no entry in the Blue Daybooks for this model. The green registres have two pages devoted to the making of the commodes, the first at a cost of 1,540 and 40 centimes, with eight more made in the intervening years, the last, a pair, in 1927 with the cost price escalating to 8,529 francs. The registre is not entirely clear, but it appears that Clément Linke, father and son, made the locks for this model. The cabinetmaking was exclusively by Guntren who took 496 hours per commode, paid 85 centimes in 1908 rising to 5 francs 75 cents for the last pair. Linke priced this commode at 3,000 French francs, noting in his book 'original est de Leleu est à Trianon.'
The original commode by Leleu, on loan from the Petit Trianon, is shown in a line engraving in the retrospective part of the Exposition de l' Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 1882, De Champeau & Others, 'Les arts du bois,' pub. Quantin, 1883, p. 80. The commode entered the Petit Trianon in 1867 on the occasion of an earlier exhibition dedicated to the memory of Marie-Antoinette, organised under the patronage of the Empress Eugénie.
Jean-François Leleu
A pupil and later collaborator with Jean-François Oeben, Jean-François Leleu became maître on the latter’s death in 1763. His work can be divided into two concurrent but distinct styles: the first owing more to the legacy of Oeben, being of large, solid forms, more noble in style; the second, although retaining the clean, definite lines of the first, being an exercise in elegance and understatement. It is this second style for which Leleu is chiefly remembered and which the present commode, with its lightly bombé form and restrained frieze mounts, is a principal example.
Literature:
Payne, Christopher. François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, (woodbridge, UK), 2003; p. 502, for the black and white cliché of index number 1127
Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions, Antique Collectors club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; p. 298 - 300.
Pradère, Alexandre. French Furniture Makers; p. 340, fig. 398; and P.
Arizzoli-Clementel. Versailles Furniture...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Walnut Commode from Alsace
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Elegant 19th Century French walnut commode from the Alsace region.
With parquetry inlay and star on the top. It has three drawers finishing on tapered legs.
The commode been cleaned ...
Category
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Signed Vintage Blue Lacquer & Brass Dresser by Jean Claude Mahey, France 1970s
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Geneva, CH
Beautiful vintage blue lacquer and brass 10 drawers dresser by Jean Claude Mahey and produced by Maison Romeo, France ca. 1970s
Signed at the bottom.
Good condition.
L 130 x D 45 x H...
Category
1970s Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French 2nd Empire Mahogany Marble Top Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French 2nd Empire Mahogany Marble Top Commode was crafted during the Napoleon III period, when all the major French styles were revived, especially the one that gained prominence during his uncle's reign at the turn of the 19th century. This example was lavished with exotic flame mahogany veneering across the front, providing a visual feast that is accentuated by the half columns on each corner, both fitted with cast bronze capitals and bases. Brass shields cover the keyholes, allowing one to use keys...
Category
Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
18th Century Country French Louis XVI Neoclassical Commode ~ Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Country French Louis XVI Neoclassical Commode ~ Chest of Drawers is a timeless reminder of the everlasting splendor of the classical style, founded by the ancient Greeks...
Category
1790s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century Hand Painted Secretary with Hidden Drawers and Floral Decorations
Located in Sofia, BG
Secretary with "lacquered" decoration in the style of Coromandel lacquers decorated with chrysanthemums, flower vases and other beautiful objects. Rectangular, it opens with four dra...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Large French Bamboo Rattan and Brass Chest of Drawers, 1960s
Located in Paris, IDF
Natural bamboo and rattan are the chief materials creating a summery, organic aesthetic in this 1960s French commode chest of drawers, while bri...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Art Deco French Rosewood and Sycamore Chest
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco rosewood and sycamore chest of 6 drawers with gilt metal handles.
Category
20th Century Art Deco French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal
Antique 19th Century Marie-Antoinette Commode Paris Fire-Gilt Bronze Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
From the most significant craftsmen of the 18th century, Joseph Stockel (1743–1802) and Guillaume Benemann (1750-1811) who received a commission from Lo...
Category
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
20th century French Oak and Brass Art deco Chests of drawer, 1930s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice oak chest of drawers dating from the art deco era.
Beautiful brass handles.
Typical graphic base from the 1930s.
Very good condition. Ideal size, easy to place.
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Antique French Louis XV Style Commode
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique French commode, dating from around the 1910-1920 period.
This is of outstanding quality, it is a lovely and useful size. There are fabulous inlaid geometric patte...
Category
1910s Louis XV Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Early 19thC French Walnut Commode
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1830
Early 19thC French walnut commode - a two drawer commode with hoof feet detail and lovely warm patina.
Measures: W 100 x D 50 ...
Category
1820s Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Antique 5-Foot Long French Commode in Sculpted Oak, Original Marble Top, C. 1860
Located in Dallas, TX
A rather unusual French commode, given the approximate width of 60 inches, this sculpted oak chest of drawers was hand-carved circa 1860. A relatively thin (1 1/8 inch in depth) orig...
Category
Mid-19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Stone, Marble
18th Century Louis XVI Period Commode ~ Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Louis XVI Period Commode ~ Chest of Drawers features a facade en arbalette lavished with superb neoclassic carved detail that is visually captivating! When viewed from ...
Category
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Chest of drawers in oak and wicker – France 1950
Located in Girona, Girona
Chest of drawers in oak veneer with wicker decoration on the front of the drawers.
France c.1950
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wicker, Oak
French Fruitwood Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
Chest of drawers made with a beautiful fruitwood with brass accents. This chest of drawers is rare because of its large size.
France, circa 1780.
Category
Late 18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
18th Century Country French Commode
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Carved cherry French commode with raised panel sides and corners, drawers having carved cartouches with finely cast brass ring pulls, bold brass central escutcheons, carved bread board sides, peg construction and resting on short cabriole legs with whorl feet.
Condition: nicely patinated, smooth gliding drawers, condition consistent with age, at some time the chest received very well executed cleaning. There are two remaining antique locks...
Category
18th Century French Provincial Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Cherry
Pair of French Provincial Brittany Style Bedside Commodes
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Provincial Brittany style bedside commodes with spindle design and marble-top with shelf (18th-19th century).
Category
Late 18th Century French Provincial Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
French Louis XVI Style 19th Century Walnut Commode with Red Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI style walnut commode from the 19th century, with red marble top, gilt bronze accents and drawers. Created in France during the 19th century, this walnut commode fe...
Category
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Very Nice 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Commode By Haentges Freres
By Haentges Freres
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Very Nice Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Commode By Haentges Freres
Haentges Freres
A marble top above a bronze frieze, with one long drawer decorated with...
Category
Late 19th Century Belle Époque Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
18th Century Carved Walnut Marble-Top Commode
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A shaped case with three long drawers carved with angular frames with rosettes. Each with new added compartments. Carved side panels, carved lower frame with leafy vines raised on ca...
Category
Early 19th Century French Provincial Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Lacquer Commode
By Henry Dasson
Located in New York, NY
This Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted lacquer commode contains a beautiful lake scene painted in chinoiserie style depicting people in a Chinese garden surrounded by a lake, small ...
Category
19th Century Chinoiserie Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Bronze-Mounted Lacquered Commode, circa 19th Century, France
Located in Girona, Spain
19th century gilt bronze-mounted lacquered commode.
19th century French commode structure made with the drawers of an 18th century lacquered Japanese cabinet.
Unique and very rare ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinoiserie Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Cabinet
Located in Warsaw, PL
This elegant cabinet exemplifies the refined aesthetic of the Napoleon III period, a time of great artistic and decorative flourishing in France. The cabinet showcases a striking com...
Category
19th Century Napoleon III Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Maison Krieger French Art Deco Amboyna Cabinet Semaniere
By Maison Krieger
Located in Queens, NY
Art Deco French amboyna semaniere with slight bow front and inset marble top with nickled brass pulls & original key (signed: KRIEGER on the back & lock).
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
French 1820s Restauration Period Walnut Three-Drawer Commode with Carved Foliage
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Restauration period walnut commode from the early 19th century, with three drawers, carved foliage and fluted accents. This French Restauration period walnut commode, crafte...
Category
Early 19th Century Restauration Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal
French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Military Armor Commode Attr. Mâison Millet
By Maison Millet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XVI style burr-walnut and mahogany marquetry and ormolu-mounted Military armorial Meuble D'Appui with a Veined Brèche Violette marble top, attri...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Small Rococo Style Chest of Drawers or Nightstand, France, 19th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
Small Rococo style chest of drawers or nightstand, France 19th century. This beautiful small dresser has a gorgeous kingwood veneer and is decorated with Rococo Style bronze fittings...
Category
1860s Rococo Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Kingwood
Antique French Regence Style Commode with Bronze Dore Hardware, Circa 1875
Located in Dallas, TX
A stunning commode with bronze dore hardware, this French chest of drawers dates to circa 1875 and is in the Regence style. The beautiful parquetry veneer has a rich sheen and a warm...
Category
1870s Louis XIV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Exceptional Pair of 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Commodes By Maison Millet
By Jean-François Leleu, Maison Millet
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exceptional Matched Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Style Parquetry Commodes/Night Stands By Maison Millet
Theodore Millet after Jean-Francois Leleu
The ...
Category
Late 19th Century Belle Époque Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Commode 19th Century Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted commode 19th century marble top of breakfront form having three drawers
with working key. The bronze mounts depict leaf
and berry design. The si...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Kingwood
Antique Country French Regence Walnut Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Regence Walnut Commode was hand-crafted from the premier indigenous hardwood of Europe, sumptuous French walnut! The bev...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XIV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Louis Phillippe Style Trompe L'Oeil Safe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Late 19th century French trompe l'oeil safe by Gallet Paris, in the form of a Louis Phillippe gilt and ebonized style chest of drawers, with faux drawer trim concealing the lock, sur...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Iron
Pinewood Sideboard, circa 1960, France
Located in Girona, Spain
Pinewood sideboard
Two-door with four central drawers and spindled legs
France, circa 1960
Very good vintage condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Iron
Return of Egypt lacquered chest of drawers, 19th c.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Black lacquered eturn from Egypt style chest of drawers in opening with three drawers decorated with caryatids, draw rings with lion's muzzles. France, 19th c.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Marble Top Bedside Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
Great little 19th century French marble top chest with canter corners, shaped marble top and French feet. Great height and size for a bedside chest or side table.
Category
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
18th Century French Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th C French painted oak commode with a faux marble top. 1790.
Reference: 8039
Dimensions
46 inches (117 cms) Wide
24.5 inches (62 cms) Deep
42 inches (107 cms) High
Category
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Oak
French Antique Raised Two Drawer Bleached Wood Chest with Star Inlay Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French bleached-wood raised commode with two drawers, from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique chest from France has been designed in nice, clean/linear lines, allo...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
French Regency Style Marble Top Commode With Brass Hardware
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: Height: 33 in Width: 49 1/4 in Depth: 22 3/4 in
This vintage French Regency style marble top commode is a great example of quality french furniture! If you look at the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Regency French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Transitional Commode (Louis XV – Louis XVI), Marquetry, Late 18th Century
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
Transitional Commode (Louis XV – Louis XVI), Marquetry, Late 18th Century
Elegant and refined, this Transitional commode — bridging the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles — dates from th...
Category
1890s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Grey Shagreen Chest of Drawers with Black Stone Marquetry by Ginger Brown
By Ginger Brown
Located in Bourguebus, FR
This beautiful organic chest of drawers is made of dark grey shagreen (our ref CARBON).
It has 2 drawers, and the top is inlaid with a polished black stone marquetry...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Stone
Antique French Commodes for Sale on 1stDibs
Shopping for an antique French commode or chest of drawers?
Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote any case 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. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot.
During Louis XIV's reign, the commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk. 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.
At 1stDibs, find antique and vintage French commodes and chests of drawers for sale — shop Rococo-style commodes, Empire-style commodes, Louis XVI-style commodes and other antique furniture today.