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Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

AESTHETIC MOVEMENT

In 1880, polymath designer William Morris declared: “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” His words encapsulated the Aesthetic Movement, which prized beauty above all and blurred the lines between fine art and the decorative arts, particularly through lavishly crafted furniture pieces.

The Aesthetic Movement, whose major proponents included author Oscar Wilde, flourished from the 1860s to the 1880s and was mostly popular in England and the United States. Design expositions like the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, as well as the publishing of how-to books for interior design, helped disseminate Aesthetic Movement bedroom furniture, serveware, coffee tables and other items, especially to the middle class.

The establishment of new art museums, art clubs and a rising passion for collecting at the time contributed to a growing appreciation for art. Morris’s founding of Morris & Co. in 1862 and the commercializing of this “cult of beauty” by the Liberty store in London, starting in the late 19th century, further disseminated the idea of a domestic space that was thoughtfully and floridly designed.

Leading Aesthetic Movement furniture designers included E.W. Godwin, who drew on Japanese influences and whose work reflected a wider enthusiasm for imported East Asian art. British designer Christopher Dresser created textiles, ceramics and more that were also inspired by Japanese decorative art but were representative of additional diverse design sources that ranged from Egypt to Mexico.

The Aesthetic Movement’s eclecticism resulted in dazzling interiors. Japanese fans were positioned on Renaissance-inspired cabinets with brass hardware, while mantels made of rich walnut or finely carved ebonized wood and adorned with painted Minton tiles mingled with cast-iron chairs against a backdrop of floral wallpaper. In 1881, in New York City, stenciled checkerboard motifs and painted floral murals could be found under an opalescent glass chandelier in a luxurious dressing room designed by German émigré cabinetmaker-decorator George Alfred Schastey. Amid the rise of the industrial age, the style’s promotion of art in everyday life would inform the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau.

Find a collection of antique Aesthetic Movement seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture and antiques on 1stDibs.

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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Maple & Co London Bruce Talbert attr. Aesthetic Movement chest of five drawers.
Located in London, GB
Maple and Co London, in the style of Bruce Talbert. A good quality Aesthetic Movement chest of drawers made from Walnut with a wonderful wild figure to the grain. Molded decoration t...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

A pair of small Aesthetic Movement oak sets of drawers with lockable side flaps.
Located in London, GB
A pair of small Aesthetic Movement oak sets of drawers, with carved alternating fern leaf decoration to the drawer fronts and ring pull brass handles. The hinged sides with lockable ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Morris & Co. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut tallboy with internal sliding drawers.
Located in London, GB
Morris and Co. A Superior Quality Aesthetic Movement Walnut tallboy, with a polished top and dentil molding below with fielded diamond shaped panels to the upper doors opening to rev...
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Faux Bamboo White Marble Top Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
A charming chest of drawers with faux bamboo columns and moldings. Four roomy drawers. The marble which is original is in good antique condition. Original wood handles, pine wood carved faux bamboo columns on corners. White Marble Top...
Category

19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Coastal Wicker Chest by Whitecraft for Woodard Serpentine W/ Travertine Top
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a wicker serpentine chest by WhiteCraft for Woodard. It has a travertine top that is not affixed to the piece. Note the fun wicker bun feet!.
Category

Late 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Travertine

Aesthetic Movement Japanese Lacquered Chest
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an exceptional example of an English Victorian Aesthetic Movement chest of drawers surmounted by its original mirror and a pair of small drawers on either side. The pine case has been beautifully detailed in burnt bamboo and encased in antique top quality Japanese lacquer panels...
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bamboo, Mirror, Pine, Lacquer

R Crosby & Son Victorian Burr Elm Wellington Chest of Drawers 160 Crests Seal
By Crosby & Sons
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this important, one of a kind, R Crosby & Son, Victorian Aesthetic Movement, Burr Elm and Oak Wellington Chest of Drawers housing 160 Sulphur casts...
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Elm, Oak

Lambs of Manchester Attributed, a Rare Aesthetic Movement Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
Lambs of Manchester, attributed. A rare Aesthetic Movement, unusually tall chest of drawers made from ash each drawer with stylized brass drop handles and ebonized inlaid rectangula...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ash

American Aesthetic Movement Walnut Vanity with Mirror and Marble Top, circa 1870
Located in Miami, FL
Perfect cabinet to drop in a sink for a bathroom vanity. A stunning monumental chest of drawers in walnut with mirror resting on original reddish brown & white marble top, with raise...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

English Aesthetic Movement Mahogany Chest
Located in New York, NY
English Aesthetic Movement mahogany chest with 4 drawers and gilt foliate carved panels with brass handles and trim and an inset marble top.
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

19th-C. French Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo Pine & Marble Chest / Commode
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a personal favorite! This is a late 19th century French pine commode with white marble top. The marble is not attached. The piece does have dovetail construction. It is in ve...
Category

Late 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

Related Items
English Serpentine Chest, circa 1950
Located in High Point, NC
English serpentine side chest made from mahogany, circa 1950. The top is banded in mahogany and has a central panel of flame mahogany with a beveled...
Category

1950s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

English Serpentine Chest, circa 1950
English Serpentine Chest, circa 1950
H 30.63 in W 27.75 in D 18.25 in
Pair of French Directoire Chest of Drawers / Side Tables
Located in Westport, CT
A beautiful pair of Directoire chests in solid walnut and comprised of three drawers with brass angular handles and shield-shaped escutcheons,...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Walnut Tallboy Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A stunning vintage walnut tallboy chest of drawers. This was made in England, it dates from the 1960’s. It is of superb quality, it is a very large and useful size. There is lots of...
Category

1960s British Vintage Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Walnut Tallboy Chest of Drawers
Vintage Walnut Tallboy Chest of Drawers
H 50.79 in W 30.32 in D 18.12 in
19th-C. French Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo Pine & Marble Chest / Commode
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a personal favorite! This is a late 19th century French pine commode with white marble top. The marble is not attached. The piece does have dovetail construction. It is in ve...
Category

Late 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

19th-C. French Faux Bamboo Pine & Marble Chest / Commode
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This exquisite late 19th-century French commode is a testament to the elegant aesthetic movement that captivated the era. Crafted from the finest pitch pine, this piece exudes timele...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Carrara Marble

French Walnut Serpentine Ormolu & Marble Top Chest of Drawers , Circa 1760
Located in Hollywood, SC
French Walnut serpentine graduated chest of drawers with exquisite decorative inlays, original ormolu mounts , original greenish white vane marble top, and terminating on french spl...
Category

1760s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

Pine French Faux Bamboo Miniature Chest of Drawers with Marble Top, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Wonderful and rare miniature chest of drawers. Striking French design from the 1920s. Pine faux bamboo with original marble top. In very good condition with minor wear consistent ...
Category

1920s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

John Widdicomb Art Deco Black Lacquered Dresser Chests, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Mid-Century Modern dressers or bedside chests By John Widdicomb USA, Circa 1940s Black lacquered mahogany, with brass accents. Measures: 36"W x 19....
Category

1940s American Vintage Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Antique Maple Biedermeier Chest of Drawers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous antique chest of drawers or commode in the classic Biedermeier style of 19th century Prussia. With robust maple construction...
Category

Early 20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Hardwood, Maple

Taupe RELEVO Tallboy with Six Drawers
Located in Frazão, Porto
Relevo Tallboy has a modern style, with six drawers to simplify storage and keeping the elegance of the bedroom. Matte lacquered structure in CM8 color with lined interior drawers.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Fabric, Lacquer

Taupe RELEVO Tallboy with Six Drawers
Taupe RELEVO Tallboy with Six Drawers
H 55.12 in W 29.53 in D 18.31 in
Small teak chest of drawers with metal handles
Located in Brescia, IT
Scandinavian furniture from the 1960s with black painted legs. An original, small chest of drawers also ideal as a bedside table. It is distinguished by the gilded metal handles on ...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

Small teak chest of drawers with metal handles
Small teak chest of drawers with metal handles
H 27.56 in W 29.53 in D 14.97 in
Miniature Faux Bamboo Painted Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Faux bamboo miniature painted three drawer chest.
Category

20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Miniature Faux Bamboo Painted Chest
Miniature Faux Bamboo Painted Chest
H 15.25 in W 20.75 in D 12 in
Previously Available Items
19th-C. French Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo Pine & Marble Chest / Commode
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a personal favorite! This is a late 19th century French pine commode with white marble top. The marble is not attached. The piece does have dovetail construction. It is in ve...
Category

Late 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

English Aesthetic Movement Tortoise Shell Bamboo Pine Chest
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous late 19th century English aesthetic movement pine commode or chest of drawers. The chest features a wood frame decorated with tortoise shell style bamboo trim. The top of th...
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

English Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo Marble Top Chest
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand 19th century English Aesthetic movement faux bamboo pine chest featuring a Carrara marble top. The large commode measures 48 inches wide and 40 inches high. The case is fitted ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Carrara Marble

Antique Victorian Aesthetic Walnut Burl Wash Stand Chest Commode Side Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian wash stand / chest / side table. Made of walnut featuring Aesthetic styling with three drawers featuring walnut burl acc...
Category

19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Late 20th Century French Wicker Chest / Commode by Grange
Located in Kennesaw, GA
These wicker pieces have a following! It is a late 20th century wicker chest by the French manufacturer, Grange. The company embraces natural colors like this green, black and natura...
Category

Late 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wicker, Wood

1940s French Regency Style Faux Bamboo Inspired Maple Chest of Drawers
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is one piece of an amazing set that I am about to list. There will be special pricing if you want all of the pieces. This is a 1940s French style faux bamboo inspired chest. It ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Aesthetic Movement Curly Pine Chest of Drawers Dresser VR Lock
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique aesthetic movement chest of drawers, circa 1880s. Made from curly pine with four drawers feautring hand dovetailing, engraving and brass hardware.     
Category

1880s Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

American of Martinsville Regency Style Faux Bamboo and Wicker Credenza / Chest
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a good looking piece! It is an American of Martinsville regency style 9 drawer faux bamboo fruitwood chest. It is marked and in very good condition. Note the inset wicker pan...
Category

Late 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Woven Rattan / Bamboo Chest of Drawers
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is great looking, it is a woven rattan or bamboo chest of drawers. This type of weaving is very labor intensive and indicative of skilled craftsmanship. I would say it dates to ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Rattan, Wood

R.J. Horner Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo Birdseye Maple Commode
Located in New York, NY
American Victorian Aesthetic Movement amber stained birdseye maple faux bamboo commode with a partial gallery top, paneled sides, and turned wooden handles on two cabinet doors benea...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal, Brass

Aesthetic Movement Style Carved Oak Credenza or Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic Movement style oak credenza / cabinet / sideboard, carved with floral and geometric details amongst Gothic motifs. Measures: 34.5” H x 44.5” W x 25” D.
Category

Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

French Faux Bamboo Maple Commode by Grange
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a wonderful 20th century faux bamboo chest by Grange. The wood appears to be maple, and the porcelain pulls are in very good condition.
Category

Late 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Maple

Aesthetic Movement commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage commodes and chests of drawers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bamboo and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement commodes and chests of drawers made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original commodes and chests of drawers, popular names associated with this style include Crosby & Sons, Maple & Co., Morris & Co., and Whitecraft. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for commodes and chests of drawers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,800 and tops out at $32,000 while the average work can sell for $5,786.

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