Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-19th Century Welsh Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Oak
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
17th Century English Jacobean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1840s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
2010s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak, Cherry
1820s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s Italian Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 19th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1810s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Steel
19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Belgian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Boxwood, Chestnut
1870s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1890s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
1780s Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Walnut
1810s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
2010s Danish Bauhaus Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century North American Moorish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Teak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Wood
1870s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s Polish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1860s French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century English Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1840s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Laminate
Early 19th Century Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1880s French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Laminate
Early 2000s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Laminate
1870s French Renaissance Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s Polish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century British British Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
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.