Black Chest French
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Boxes
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Louis XVI Secretaires
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Cupboards
Oak
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sideboards
Nutwood, Lacquer
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sideboards
Wood, Elm
Vintage 1920s French Napoleon III Buffets
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1940s French Napoleon III Buffets
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1890s French French Provincial Cabinets
Steel
Antique 1890s French Black Forest Decorative Boxes
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Cabinets
Vintage 1920s French Apothecary Cabinets
Antique Mid-19th Century French Biedermeier Mantel Clocks
Bronze, Enamel
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Dressers
Chrome
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Dressers
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Hollywood Regency Cabinets
Early 20th Century French Victorian Decorative Boxes
Porcelain
Vintage 1920s French Shelves
Metal
Vintage 1970s French International Style Decorative Boxes
Metal
Vintage 1970s French Hollywood Regency Cabinets
Brass
Antique Early 1900s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Antique 1740s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1960s American Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary French Neoclassical Revival Commodes and C...
Fabric
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1960s American Régence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1790s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Beech
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1920s European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s French Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Vintage 1950s French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1860s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble
20th Century Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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Black Chest French For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black Chest French?
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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