Antique French Empire Chest
Early 20th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Wood
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
1860s French Napoleon III Antique French Empire Chest
Serpentine, Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Brass
1880s French Provincial Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
1810s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
1920s French Antique French Empire Chest
Wood
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
Early 1800s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique French Empire Chest
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique French Empire Chest
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique French Empire Chest
Bronze
Early 19th Century Unknown Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
1880s French Empire Revival Antique French Empire Chest
Walnut
1860s Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Belgian Black Marble
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
1920s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
1910s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
1910s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
Early 18th Century French First Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Wood
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
1890s Empire Antique French Empire Chest
1880s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
1850s French Antique French Empire Chest
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Brass
19th Century Antique French Empire Chest
Oak
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Walnut, Wood
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Brass
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
1820s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Beech
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Brass
Early 1800s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
1810s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Walnut
19th Century Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Bronze
1820s French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Fruitwood
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Brass
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
19th Century French Antique French Empire Chest
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique French Empire Chest
Marble
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Antique French Empire Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique French Empire Chest?
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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