19th Century English Chest Of Drawers
Antique Early 19th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Ches...
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique 1810s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1730s French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1770s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ironstone, Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Dressers
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Blanket Chests
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Country Dressers
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century British Blanket Chests
Mahogany, Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century English Models and Miniatures
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Georgian Cabinets
Lacquer
Antique Mid-19th Century British Georgian Dressers
Brass
Antique 1820s British Jacobean Blanket Chests
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Dressers
Metal, Brass
Antique 1860s English Blanket Chests
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Children s Furniture
Padouk
Antique 19th Century English Trunks and Luggage
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Models and Miniatures
Wood
Antique 1820s English Georgian Blanket Chests
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Industrial Industrial and Work Tables
Metal
Antique Late 18th Century George III Blanket Chests
Brass, Iron
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Apothecary Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Desk Sets
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century British Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century English George II Desks
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Regency Jewelry Boxes
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 19th Century English Country Buffets
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Linen Presses
Pine
Antique 19th Century English Campaign Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1820s English Georgian Dressers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Rosewood
Antique 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Bookcases
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Jewelry Boxes
Hardwood
Antique 1870s English Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British Early Victorian Night Stands
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century British Cabinets
Satinwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Animal Sculptures
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Linen Presses
Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Cabinets
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Trunks and Luggage
Walnut, Pine
Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Bookcases
Brass, Metal
Antique Late 19th Century English Table Lamps
Brass
Antique 19th Century Irish Campaign Desks
Brass
Antique 1810s English Campaign Desks
Brass
Antique 1810s English Campaign Desks
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century British George II Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Vanities
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Cabinets
Brass, Other
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19th Century English Chest Of Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are 19th Century English 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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