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18th Century French Commodes

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Louis XVI Chest of Drawers with Marble Top, France 1780
Located in Leimen, DE
18th century, Louis XVI Commode, France, 1780, decorated with beautiful flower and geometrical
Category

Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Fruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut

Louis XVI Chest of Drawers with Marble Top, France 1780
Louis XVI Chest of Drawers with Marble Top, France 1780

Louis XVI Chest of Drawers with Marble Top, France 1780

$9,493
Louis XV Period Walnut Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
A Louis XV period two-drawer chest of walnut. Panels on drawers and casual curving apron. Stands on cabriole legs with hoof feet. Ornate drawer pulls and escutcheons.
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Louis XV Period Walnut Chest
Louis XV Period Walnut Chest

Louis XV Period Walnut Chest

$9,600
Signed JP Ehalt Country French Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers
By J.P. Ehalt
Located in Forney, TX
, depth, and enhances the overall antique character of this piece. During the 18th century, the French
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Signed JP Ehalt Country French Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers
Signed JP Ehalt Country French Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers

Signed JP Ehalt Country French Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers

$8,595
18thc Regence chest
Located in Dallas, TX
18th c fine Regence rosewood and mahogany commode. Original marble top
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

18thc Regence chest
18thc Regence chest

18thc Regence chest

$38,500
Louis XVI Period Chest Of Drawers In Cherry Wood
Located in Atlanta, GA
from the late 18th century. This elegant commode features three full-length drawers, each framed by
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Cherry

Louis XVI Period Chest Of Drawers In Cherry Wood
Louis XVI Period Chest Of Drawers In Cherry Wood

Louis XVI Period Chest Of Drawers In Cherry Wood

$4,950
1870s Louis XVI Period Side Table with a Curtain Door
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An elegant French 18th century natural wood two-drawers side table dating from Louis XVI era, with
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

1870s Louis XVI Period Side Table with a Curtain Door
1870s Louis XVI Period Side Table with a Curtain Door

1870s Louis XVI Period Side Table with a Curtain Door

$1,530
Cómoda francésa con tres cajones de caoba y herrajes de bronce S XVIII
Located in Marbella, ES
Cómoda francésa con tres cajones de caoba y herrajes de bronce S XVIII.
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Cómoda francésa con tres cajones de caoba y herrajes de bronce S XVIII
Cómoda francésa con tres cajones de caoba y herrajes de bronce S XVIII

Cómoda francésa con tres cajones de caoba y herrajes de bronce S XVIII

$13,053
Louis XV Style Black Lacquered Walnut Chest Of Drawers With Bronze Decorations
Located in Prato, Tuscany
French chest of drawers features two spacious and deep drawers. The handles, made of cast bronze, are
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Louis XV Style Black Lacquered Walnut Chest Of Drawers With Bronze Decorations
Louis XV Style Black Lacquered Walnut Chest Of Drawers With Bronze Decorations

Louis XV Style Black Lacquered Walnut Chest Of Drawers With Bronze Decorations

$3,536
Robust Louis XV Provincial Bureau in Oak
Located in Stamford, CT
A wonderfully robust Louis XV Provincial bureau in oak with original hardware.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Robust Louis XV Provincial Bureau in Oak
Robust Louis XV Provincial Bureau in Oak

Robust Louis XV Provincial Bureau in Oak

$6,900
Handpolished 1780s Louis Seize XVI Chest Of Drawers In Nutwood
Located in Ulm, DE
), France around 1780 Dimensions: Width: 77 cm Height: 77,5 cm Depth: 43 cm.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Nutwood

Handpolished 1780s Louis Seize XVI Chest Of Drawers In Nutwood
Handpolished 1780s Louis Seize XVI Chest Of Drawers In Nutwood

Handpolished 1780s Louis Seize XVI Chest Of Drawers In Nutwood

$5,458
A mahogany four-drawer serpentine chest of drawers
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A George III mahogany four-drawer serpentine chest of drawers, the shaped top with fluted cut corners, with four graduated drawers, orginal brass handels and bracket feet. English, ...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

A mahogany four-drawer serpentine chest of drawers
A mahogany four-drawer serpentine chest of drawers

A mahogany four-drawer serpentine chest of drawers

$16,020
Chest of drawers, Louis Seize around 1790
Located in Münster, DE
Louis Seize chest of drawers, circa 1790 Walnut and plum veneered on a softwood body, band inlays, the edges inlaid all around with maple and ebony, three drawers, original fittings...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Nutwood

Chest of drawers, Louis Seize around 1790
Chest of drawers, Louis Seize around 1790

Chest of drawers, Louis Seize around 1790

$19,580
Louis XV Three-Drawer Black Walnut Bombe-Form Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
The serpentine top above a bombe-form body fitted with three drawers adorned with bold bronze foliate mounts; all in a well-figured and richly patinated black walnut veneer.
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Louis XV Three-Drawer Black Walnut Bombe-Form Chest
Louis XV Three-Drawer Black Walnut Bombe-Form Chest

Louis XV Three-Drawer Black Walnut Bombe-Form Chest

$22,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Chest of Drawers in Rosewood Veneer with Oeben Marquetry, Louis XV Period
Located in Paris, FR
two rows with hidden crossbars. This chest of drawers from the 18th century is beautifully inlaid with
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Chest of Drawers in Rosewood Veneer with Oeben Marquetry, Louis XV Period
Chest of Drawers in Rosewood Veneer with Oeben Marquetry, Louis XV Period

Chest of Drawers in Rosewood Veneer with Oeben Marquetry, Louis XV Period

$27,888
A Very Unique French 18th C. Chest w/ Reed Carved Accents Side Doors w/Storage
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful French bleached-wood carved chest of drawers from the 18th century. This antique
Category

Antique 18th Century French Buffets

Materials

Wood

A Very Unique French 18th C. Chest w/ Reed Carved Accents Side Doors w/Storage
A Very Unique French 18th C. Chest w/ Reed Carved Accents Side Doors w/Storage

A Very Unique French 18th C. Chest w/ Reed Carved Accents Side Doors w/Storage

$8,400
Petite Louis XV Period Commode in Tulipwood with Bronze Dore Mounts Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Petite Louis XV Period Commode in Tulipwood with bronze dore mounts & grey marble top, France 18th
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Side Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Petite Louis XV Period Commode in Tulipwood with Bronze Dore Mounts Marble Top
Petite Louis XV Period Commode in Tulipwood with Bronze Dore Mounts Marble Top

Petite Louis XV Period Commode in Tulipwood with Bronze Dore Mounts Marble Top

$5,885
Louis XVI Serinette in the Form of a Miniature Commode by Richard, Paris, 1775
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
Kjellberg, The French Furniture of the 17th century, The Editions of the Amateur, 2008 Count Francois de
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XVI Musical Instruments

Materials

Wood

Louis XVI Serinette in the Form of a Miniature Commode by Richard, Paris, 1775
Louis XVI Serinette in the Form of a Miniature Commode by Richard, Paris, 1775

Louis XVI Serinette in the Form of a Miniature Commode by Richard, Paris, 1775

$41,077
French Louis XV Period Commode
Located in Marseille, FR
Beautifully carved French walnut commode (Louis XV period, circa 1720) with three drawers in
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

French Louis XV Period Commode
French Louis XV Period Commode

French Louis XV Period Commode

$4,153
18th Century French Commode
Located in Houston, TX
18th century French Commode with three block front style drawers. Ornamented in a raised rose
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

18th Century French Commode
18th Century French Commode

18th Century French Commode

$10,200
Mid-18th Century French Commode
Located in Froxfield, Wiltshire
An mid-18th century French commode with painted decoration. Later refreshed.
Category

Antique 1760s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Mid-18th Century French Commode

Mid-18th Century French Commode

$6,640
18th Century French Commode or Chest of Drawers
Located in Charlotte, NC
18th century French commode or chest of drawers. Great height and construction for sink base.
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

18th Century French Commode or Chest of Drawers
18th Century French Commode or Chest of Drawers

18th Century French Commode or Chest of Drawers

$3,895
18th Century French Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th century French cherry commode with locking drawers, two small and two large, with brass
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

18th Century French Commode
18th Century French Commode

18th Century French Commode

$13,300
18th Century French Commode
By Jean-Francois Hache
Located in London, GB
An 18th century French fruit wood serpentine commode made by Jean-François Hache, with two deep
Category

Antique 1750s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Fruitwood

18th Century French Commode
18th Century French Commode

18th Century French Commode

$18,895
Early 18th Century French Commode
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
Early 18th century French walnut commode.       
Category

Antique Early 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Early 18th Century French Commode
Early 18th Century French Commode

Early 18th Century French Commode

$4,655
18th Century French Commode in Walnut
Located in Houston, TX
18th century French transitional Louis XIV/Louis XV commode in walnut.  Established in 1979
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Commode in Walnut
18th Century French Commode in Walnut

18th Century French Commode in Walnut

$5,000
18th Century French Commode à Ressaut
Located in Round Top, TX
This stunning commode from the Transition period, a time characterized by a transition from Rococo
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

18th Century French Commode à Ressaut
18th Century French Commode à Ressaut

18th Century French Commode à Ressaut

$2,150
18th Century French Ebonised Commode
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
18th century French ebonized commode.  
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

18th Century French Ebonised Commode
18th Century French Ebonised Commode

18th Century French Ebonised Commode

$4,244
18th Century French Oak Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lovely pale Oak commode with wonderful leg detailing.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

18th Century French Oak Commode
18th Century French Oak Commode

18th Century French Oak Commode

$8,200
French 18th Century commode
Located in Amsterdam, NL
French 18th.Century oak commode, with 3 drawers. Top is renewed with marbled wood.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of...

Materials

Oak

French 18th Century commode
French 18th Century commode

French 18th Century commode

$3,263
French 18th Century Commode
Located in London, GB
French 18th Century Commode with original paint
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

French 18th Century Commode
French 18th Century Commode

French 18th Century Commode

Small 18th Century French Cherry Commode
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
Small French 18th century cherry commode with very nice patina.
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

Small 18th Century French Cherry Commode
Small 18th Century French Cherry Commode

Small 18th Century French Cherry Commode

$3,765
18th Century French Walnut Bombe Commode
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
Great proportion, small, 18th century French walnut bombe commode.   
Category

Antique Early 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut Bombe Commode
18th Century French Walnut Bombe Commode

18th Century French Walnut Bombe Commode

$5,477
18th Century French Provincial Oak Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th century French Provincial Louis XV-style double door oak commode.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

18th Century French Provincial Oak Commode
18th Century French Provincial Oak Commode

18th Century French Provincial Oak Commode

$5,500
18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
escutcheons, circa 18th century, France.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode
18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode

18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode

$7,800
18th century Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th Century Commode with wood top, original hardware, 4 drawers.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

18th century Commode
18th century Commode

18th century Commode

$28,000
18th Century Carved Walnut French Regence Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
18th century carved walnut French Regence commode with bronze d'ore hardware.
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Carved Walnut French Regence Commode
18th Century Carved Walnut French Regence Commode

18th Century Carved Walnut French Regence Commode

$8,900
18th Century Commode
Located in New Orleans, La
Pale blue commode with faux painted top. Beautiful carvings of floral motifs, pilasters, and swags.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

18th Century Commode

18th Century Commode

$15,500
18th Century French Polychrome Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A rare 18th century French Serpentine commode in polychrome paint. This shapely commode has a
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

18th Century French Polychrome Commode
18th Century French Polychrome Commode

18th Century French Polychrome Commode

$5,477
French 18th Century Kingwood and Tulipwood Commode
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
French 18th century kingwood and tulipwood commode. Wonderfully shaped with beautiful patina and
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Tulipwood, Kingwood

French 18th Century Kingwood and Tulipwood Commode
French 18th Century Kingwood and Tulipwood Commode

French 18th Century Kingwood and Tulipwood Commode

$7,257
18th Century French Marquetry Commode
By Jean-Pierre Latz
Located in New Orleans, LA
Very fine 18th century French Louis XV/XVI transition period marquetry four drawer commode with
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

18th Century French Marquetry Commode
18th Century French Marquetry Commode

18th Century French Marquetry Commode

$38,500
French Oak 18th Century Commode
Located in Pasadena, CA
This commode is in great condition and has a very pretty color. The Escargot feet are original and
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...

French Oak 18th Century Commode
French Oak 18th Century Commode

French Oak 18th Century Commode

$6,450
18th Century Regence Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful blue painted 18th century five-drawer Regence commode.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

18th Century Regence Commode
18th Century Regence Commode

18th Century Regence Commode

$24,200
18th Century French Walnut Commode
Located in Petworth, GB
An 18th century French walnut commode arbalete (crossbow) with original locks, keys and escutcheons
Category

Antique 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut Commode
18th Century French Walnut Commode

18th Century French Walnut Commode

$14,787
18th Century French Louis XV Red Chinoiserie Commode
Located in San Francisco, CA
An 18th century French Louis XV red chinoiserie three-drawer commode.
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

18th Century French Louis XV Red Chinoiserie Commode
18th Century French Louis XV Red Chinoiserie Commode

18th Century French Louis XV Red Chinoiserie Commode

$89,300
18th Century French Walnut Commode Signed FC FRANC
Located in Coral Gables, FL
18th Century French Provincial Walnut Commode Signed FC FRANC, a documented 18th century French
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Régence Commodes and Chests of D...

18th Century French Walnut Commode Signed FC FRANC
18th Century French Walnut Commode Signed FC FRANC

18th Century French Walnut Commode Signed FC FRANC

$10,900
18th Century French Painted Bombe Commode
Located in Treasure Island, CA
Louis XV Commode en Tombeau France 18th century Red and white serpentine faux-painted wood top
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Wood

18th Century French Painted Bombe Commode
18th Century French Painted Bombe Commode

18th Century French Painted Bombe Commode

$6,500
18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A very elegant, 18th century French serpentine commode in walnut, with a lovely colour and three
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode
18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode

18th Century French Walnut Serpentine Commode

$5,477
Outstanding 18th Century French Fruitwood Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A wonderful 18th century French fruitwood commode of elegant proportions and great curves, with a
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Fruitwood

Outstanding 18th Century French Fruitwood Commode
Outstanding 18th Century French Fruitwood Commode

Outstanding 18th Century French Fruitwood Commode

$5,477
18th Century Ebonised French Commode with Marble Top
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
Small 18th century French ebonized marble-top commode with ormolu mounts.   
Category

Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

18th Century Ebonised French Commode with Marble Top
18th Century Ebonised French Commode with Marble Top

18th Century Ebonised French Commode with Marble Top

$3,628
18th Century Walnut Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
18th century Louis XV serpentine walnut commode with 4 drawers on 3 levels. Period piece
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

18th Century Walnut Commode
18th Century Walnut Commode

18th Century Walnut Commode

$12,500
18th Century French Louis XV Cherrywood Tombeau Commode
Located in San Francisco, CA
An 18th century Louis XV cherrywood commode, the top with serpentine front and moulded edge above a
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

18th Century French Louis XV Cherrywood Tombeau Commode
18th Century French Louis XV Cherrywood Tombeau Commode

18th Century French Louis XV Cherrywood Tombeau Commode

$67,900
18th Century French Provincial Serpentine Commode
Located in Birmingham, AL
18th century French Provincial serpentine commode made from walnut with impressive brass hardware.
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Provincial Serpentine Commode
18th Century French Provincial Serpentine Commode

18th Century French Provincial Serpentine Commode

$8,600
French 18th c. Commode
Located in Norwalk, CT
Walnut serpentine form on front and sides with two short over two long drawers. Shaped recessed side panels, serpentine aprons. Brass pulls and escutcheons. Raised on cabriole legs.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

French 18th c. Commode
French 18th c. Commode

French 18th c. Commode

$14,500
French 18th c. Commode
Located in Norwalk, CT
Louis XV provincial walnut serpentine chest with three long drawers and brass mounts and pulls. Carved details on the drawers. Raised panels and shaped aprons on the sides. Raised on...
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

French 18th c. Commode
French 18th c. Commode

French 18th c. Commode

$13,750
18th Century French Walnut Commode with Marble Top
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
A very nice sized 18th century French walnut commode with marble top.
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut Commode with Marble Top
18th Century French Walnut Commode with Marble Top

18th Century French Walnut Commode with Marble Top

$2,875
French 18th century Louis XIV three-drawer walnut commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French 18th century Louis XIV three-drawer walnut commode with figured walnut sides. FOR
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

French 18th century Louis XIV three-drawer walnut commode
French 18th century Louis XIV three-drawer walnut commode

French 18th century Louis XIV three-drawer walnut commode

$24,000
French 18th century Louis XV two-drawer walnut commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French 18th century Louis XV two-drawer walnut commode with marble top and cabriole legs.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

French 18th century Louis XV two-drawer walnut commode
French 18th century Louis XV two-drawer walnut commode

French 18th century Louis XV two-drawer walnut commode

$22,000
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18th Century French Commodes For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of 18th century French commodes available for sale. Each of these unique 18th century French commodes was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, walnut and metal. 18th century French commodes have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. 18th century French commodes bearing Louis XV or Louis XVI hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Many 18th century French commodes are appealing in their simplicity, but Leonard Boudin, Matthieu Criaerd and Claude Charles Saunier produced popular 18th century French commodes that are worth a look.

How Much are 18th Century French Commodes?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $8,500, while they’re typically $680 on the low end and $445,000 highest priced.

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.

Questions About 18th Century French Commodes
  • How do you identify 18th-century furniture?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
    To identify 18th-century furniture, you can research your piece in the context of the prevailing styles of the period or consult a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. To identify your item on your own, look over it for maker's marks, such as carvings, stamps, brands and labels. Researching the marking can help you determine the maker of your piece, and from there, you can search further to learn more about your particular item. Without a maker's mark, the best approach is to consider the characteristics of the dominant furniture styles during the 18th century. In England, these included William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Some French furniture styles of the 1700s include Louis XV, Louis XVI and Régence. Find a diverse assortment of 18th-century furniture on 1stDibs.
  • Did they have wedding rings in the 18th century?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, wedding rings have a long history, stretching back to ancient Egypt. The first diamond engagement ring was created in 1477 by Archduke Maximillian of Austria. Browse a wide array of vintage and contemporary wedding rings on 1stDibs.
  • How did art change in the 18th century?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In the 18th century, art changed in style from Baroque to Rococo and Neoclassicism. Art became more ornamented and idealized during the Rococo period and then shifted toward a style that emulated the artwork of ancient Greece and Rome near the end of the century. You’ll find a variety of fine art on 1stDibs.
  • How can I identify 18th century brass candlesticks?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    One way to check if your brass candlesticks are from the 18th century is to look for the two seams running lengthwise on either side. This is from when the candlestick was molded in two halves and then soldered together. You’ll find a variety of candlesticks of all shapes and sizes from some of the top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • Which individuals are considered the Big Three of 18th-century cartoons, and why?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025
    The individuals considered the Big Three of 18th-century cartoons are William Hogarth, James Gillray and George Cruikshank. Although the 18th century saw a widespread increase in illustrations in newspapers, these three illustrators were particularly well-known for their work. Hogarth's work was extremely diverse, ranging from serious, realistic paintings and portraits to satirical and moralistic illustrations filled with symbolism. A British caricaturist, Gillray is remembered today for his artworks representing political and social satires, like his political cartoons against George III of England. Despite being a prolific caricaturist, Cruikshank is now most famous for illustrating the works of Charles Dickens. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of illustrations.
  • What art style was used by the 19th-century French painters?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The French painters of the 19th century worked in two styles. Neoclassicism dominated the first half of the century, and Impressionism was the most common style during the second half. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of French paintings.
  • What kinds of figures elevated the use of porcelain in 18th century Europe?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    At the end of the 17th century, Europe went into a frenzy over porcelain. Asian porcelain was highly sought after, and spurred the foundation of the Meissen factory in France, where hard porcelain went on to be made. You’ll find a large collection of porcelain pieces from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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