Antique Serpentine Commode
19th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
18th Century French Antique Serpentine Commode
Oak
1780s English Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Antique Serpentine Commode
Other
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
1780s Italian Antique Serpentine Commode
Walnut
18th Century French Antique Serpentine Commode
Oak
Late 18th Century English Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Serpentine Commode
Marble, Ormolu
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Metal, Brass
1920s British Antique Serpentine Commode
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Serpentine Commode
Oak, Pine, Paint
18th Century French Antique Serpentine Commode
Walnut
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Satinwood, Walnut
Late 18th Century American Chippendale Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
1880s Louis XV Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
1750s Italian Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
Early 20th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
1760s French Louis XV Antique Serpentine Commode
Bronze
1780s Irish George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
18th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Other
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass, Other
18th Century Scandinavian Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Walnut
1780s English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
18th Century English George II Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Serpentine Commode
Mother-of-Pearl
1920s Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
19th Century English Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Antique Serpentine Commode
Marble
Early 19th Century Italian Rococo Revival Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century English Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
18th Century French Rococo Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Metal
Early 18th Century French Antique Serpentine Commode
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood, Walnut
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
19th Century Irish Georgian Antique Serpentine Commode
Leather, Mahogany
18th Century British Georgian Antique Serpentine Commode
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Serpentine Commode
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century French Baroque Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood, Paint
1880s German Baroque Revival Antique Serpentine Commode
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Baroque Revival Antique Serpentine Commode
Bronze
18th Century British Chippendale Antique Serpentine Commode
Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Serpentine Commode
Pine
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Serpentine Commode
Walnut
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Antique Serpentine Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Serpentine 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.
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