Bachelor Chest
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Boxwood
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
Antique 1820s Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Rosewood
Antique 1750s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1750s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
20th Century American Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George III Commodes and Chests ...
Brass
20th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Pine
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1770s American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s European Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1780s European Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1780s European Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Late 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Early 20th Century Unknown Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Antique 1760s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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Bachelor Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Bachelor 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A bachelor’s chest of drawers is a relatively short and shallow chest, usually with three or four drawers. The name refers to their historical use as multi-purpose, space-saving fixtures that are perfect for a bachelor sharing a friend’s flat. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique and modern bachelor’s chests from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What is a bachelor’s chest?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJanuary 23, 2019
A bachelor’s chest is a low chest of drawers. Its name comes from the fact that it was originally designed to provide multipurpose storage for a single man with a small living space.
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