Black Commode
20th Century Center Tables
Malachite
Antique 18th Century French Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Brass
Antique 18th Century Italian Antiquities
Wood
Vintage 1960s Swedish Dressers
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Night Stands
Mirror
20th Century English Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s Swedish Gustavian Cabinets
Paint
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Carrara Marble
Vintage 1960s Mexican End Tables
Iron
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Mirror, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Sideboards
Marble, Steel
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Demi-lune Tables
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Stools
Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Night Stands
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Gold
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-18th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Antique 19th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century Austrian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Parchment Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Antique 19th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint, Wood
2010s Portuguese Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Restauration Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Louis XVI Commodes and Chests o...
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Chrome
Vintage 1940s Belgian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1940s Belgian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Antique 1820s Austrian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1790s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1860s Austrian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Black Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black 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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