1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Birch
1940s American Regency 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s Italian Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Parchment Paper, Lacquer
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Fir
1940s American Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Oak
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Metal
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Walnut
1940s Spanish Arts and Crafts 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s French Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Wood
1940s French Louis XV 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Beech
20th Century French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Marble
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
1940s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Iron
1940s American 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Glass
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Pine
1940s British 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Ash
1940s Belgian 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Pine
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Oak
1940s Scottish 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Wood
1940s Scottish 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Pine
1940s Italian Industrial 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Wood
1940s British 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Oak
1940s English Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Walnut
1940s English Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Walnut
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Pine
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s American Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s Polish Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Walnut
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s French 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Pine
1940s German 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Oak
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s European 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Ash
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s British Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Pine
1940s Italian Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Aluminum
1940s American Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Wood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Bronze
1940s 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
1940s American 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Italian 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Italian 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Louis XV 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Walnut
1940s Italian 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Murano Glass, Maple, Walnut
1940s French Art Deco 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s Neoclassical 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Metal
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Adirondack 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Wood
1940s French Mid-Century Modern 1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers
Wood
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1940s Vintage Chest Of Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are 1940s Vintage 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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