19th Century Burl Chest Of Drawers
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests o...
Fruitwood, Maple, Nutwood, Burl
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Russian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Swiss Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Brass
Antique 19th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Austrian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century American Eastlake Dressers
Marble
Vintage 1960s Italian Dressers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Night Stands
Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Dressers
Granite
Antique Late 19th Century Korean Cabinets
Brass, Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Credenzas
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century English Edwardian Dressers
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Dressers
Antique 19th Century Cabinets
Burl
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1860s English Victorian Cabinets
Oak
Antique 19th Century American Bedroom Sets
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Desks
Pewter
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Night Stands
Walnut, Burl
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Night Stands
Marble
Antique 19th Century American Renaissance Revival Dressers
Marble
Antique 19th Century European Gothic Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Dressers
Marble
Antique 19th Century English Models and Miniatures
Antique Late 19th Century American Renaissance Revival Dressers
Marble
Antique 1840s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Ash
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Wrought Iron
Antique 1790s German Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany, Maple
Antique 19th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century European Directoire End Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Antique 19th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Leather, Maple, Wood
Antique 19th Century European Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Restauration Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century European Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century English George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century European Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Walnut
Antique 19th Century European Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
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19th Century Burl Chest Of Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are 19th Century Burl 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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