French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
1860s Napoleon III Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
Early 20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s Rustic Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1930s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Chrome
1930s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
Mid-18th Century Louis XIV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century Belle Époque Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Belle Époque French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1920s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1850s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chestnut
1940s Louis XV Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
19th Century Victorian Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Other
19th Century Napoleon III Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1950s Louis XV Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
19th Century Louis Philippe Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Griotte Marble, Ormolu
18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century Napoleon III Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
18th Century and Earlier Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Formica, Walnut
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
1920s Louis XV Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1720s Louis XIV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Belle Époque Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Charles X Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century and Earlier Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ceramic, Oak, Opaline Glass
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
18th Century Directoire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1890s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Palisander
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Mahogany, Walnut
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s French Provincial Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany, Maple
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1770s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
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.