18th Century American Chest Of Drawers
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1790s American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 18th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests o...
Brass
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1860s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage 1980s French Empire Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Antique 1740s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique 1880s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1760s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1980s Empire Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1880s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1830s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1850s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Mid-19th Century English Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of D...
Marble
Vintage 1910s French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 20th Century Unknown Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Marble
Antique 1820s French Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1780s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1780s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century American Country Blanket Chests
Wood
Antique 1780s American Chippendale Blanket Chests
Brass, Wrought Iron
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Dressers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century American Folk Art Blanket Chests
Pine
Antique 1760s English Georgian Blanket Chests
Oak, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Queen Anne Lowboys
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Colonial Linen Presses
Poplar, Paint
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Cabinets
Antique 18th Century American Painted Furniture
Hardwood
Antique 1780s British George III Dressers
Wood, Oak
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Painted Furniture
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century American Spanish Colonial Cabinets
Maple, Walnut, Pine
Antique Late 18th Century American Chippendale Desks
Brass
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Bookcases
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century American Chippendale Desks
Brass
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Desks
Brass, Steel, Iron
Antique 1790s American Chippendale More Mirrors
Brass
Vintage 1980s Chinese Qing Cabinets
Jade, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Cabinets
Marble, Brass
Antique 16th Century Spanish Renaissance Furniture
Bone, Walnut
Antique 1830s French Empire Tables
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
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18th Century American Chest Of Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are 18th Century American Chest Of Drawers?
Finding the Right Commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Shopping for 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 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.
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.
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