French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century Neoclassical Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1850s Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Belle Époque Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1990s Art Deco French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx, Ormolu
Late 20th Century Modern French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Provincial Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1800s Empire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
Mid-20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century French Provincial Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-19th Century Régence Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Palisander
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 18th Century Régence Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
2010s Mid-Century Modern French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rock Crystal, Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century Baroque French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Mid-19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Art Deco French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Neoclassical Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Empire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
1780s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Late 18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic, Pine
1720s Regency Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1890s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1880s Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
19th Century Empire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Victorian Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal
Mid-20th Century Regency French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
20th Century Art Deco French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1770s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Rosewood
Early 20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1850s Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1790s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
19th Century Neoclassical Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1760s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Rococo Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Hardwood
1940s Rustic Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
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.