18th Century American Chest Of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Poplar
Antique 1780s George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Pine
Antique 1780s American George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Pine
20th Century Syrian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Bone
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Commodes and Chest...
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Federal Commodes and Chests of...
Walnut, Satinwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century North American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Ivory
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Antique 1870s Irish Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Iron
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Queen Anne Commodes and Chests ...
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Commodes and Chest...
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Pine
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Painted Furniture
Pine
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Blanket Chests
Maple, Pine
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Jewelry Boxes
Walnut
Antique 1770s American American Colonial Secretaires
Mahogany, Poplar
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Dutch Louis XVI Cabinets
Wood
Antique 17th Century Spanish Baroque Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century North American Folk Art Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 18th Century American American Colonial Commodes and Chests...
Cherry
Antique 1780s American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Pine
Antique 1870s Irish Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century American American Colonial Commodes and Chests ...
Pine, Chestnut, Maple
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American American Colonial Blanket Chests
Iron
Antique 18th Century American American Colonial Dressers
Pine
Antique 1770s American American Colonial Secretaires
Mahogany, Poplar
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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18th Century American Chest Of Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
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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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