Antique French Commode
19th Century French Antique French Commode
Marble
Early 20th Century French Country Antique French Commode
Brass
Early 18th Century French Régence Antique French Commode
Bronze
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique French Commode
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Antique French Commode
Walnut
18th Century French Antique French Commode
Walnut
18th Century French Antique French Commode
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Antique French Commode
Brass
Mid-18th Century French Antique French Commode
Marble
Late 19th Century French Country Antique French Commode
Carrara Marble
19th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Oak
Mid-19th Century Antique French Commode
Carrara Marble
Early 19th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Fruitwood
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique French Commode
Fruitwood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique French Commode
Marble, Brass
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique French Commode
Carrara Marble
18th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Walnut
18th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Walnut
18th Century French Antique French Commode
Ormolu
19th Century French Restauration Antique French Commode
Marble
19th Century French Empire Antique French Commode
Brass
19th Century French Empire Antique French Commode
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire Antique French Commode
Brass, Bronze
1890s French Louis XVI Antique French Commode
Marble
19th Century French Aesthetic Movement Antique French Commode
Wood
1750s French Antique French Commode
Walnut
19th Century French Other Antique French Commode
Brass
19th Century French Restauration Antique French Commode
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique French Commode
Walnut
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique French Commode
Walnut, Burl
19th Century French Empire Antique French Commode
Stone, Brass
Mid-18th Century French Louis Philippe Antique French Commode
Metal
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique French Commode
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Walnut
1880s French Antique French Commode
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Empire Antique French Commode
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique French Commode
Wood
Late 19th Century French Country Antique French Commode
Walnut
19th Century French Antique French Commode
Marble
19th Century French Antique French Commode
Marble
18th Century Antique French Commode
Fruitwood
1820s French Antique French Commode
Walnut
19th Century Antique French Commode
Walnut
19th Century French Antique French Commode
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique French Commode
Walnut, Fruitwood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Antique French Commode
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Antique French Commode
19th Century French Empire Antique French Commode
Wood
Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Antique French Commode
Walnut
19th Century Antique French Commode
Walnut
1770s French Louis XV Antique French Commode
Kingwood, Rosewood
18th Century French Louis XV Antique French Commode
Brass
1760s French Louis XV Antique French Commode
Elm, Rosewood
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique French Commode
Wood
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique French Commode
Marble
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique French Commode
Marble
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Antique French Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique French Commode?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Check the clock for a manufacturer’s mark or label. Once you have this, you should be able to look up the clock’s brand to see if it is French in origin. A clock is considered antique once it is 100 years old. A professional can also help verify the origin of your clock. Shop an array of expertly vetted antique clocks on 1stDibs.
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