Black French Antique Commode
1870s French Neoclassical Revival Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Black French Antique Commode
Sapele Wood
Early 19th Century French Empire Black French Antique Commode
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Black French Antique Commode
Oak
1830s French Louis Philippe Black French Antique Commode
1710s French Louis XIV Black French Antique Commode
1830s French Country Black French Antique Commode
Marble
Early 19th Century French Black French Antique Commode
Slate
Mid-19th Century French Rococo Revival Black French Antique Commode
1920s French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Black French Antique Commode
Mahogany
18th Century French Regency Black French Antique Commode
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Black French Antique Commode
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century Neoclassical Black French Antique Commode
Brass
19th Century French Empire Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XIV Black French Antique Commode
Brass, Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Black French Antique Commode
Burl
Early 20th Century French Black French Antique Commode
1850s French Country Black French Antique Commode
Brass
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Brass
1790s French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Black French Antique Commode
Wood
1880s French Neoclassical Black French Antique Commode
Marble
1890s French Chinoiserie Black French Antique Commode
Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Black French Antique Commode
19th Century French Louis Philippe Black French Antique Commode
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Black French Antique Commode
Marble
19th Century French Black French Antique Commode
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Black French Antique Commode
Walnut, Burl
1880s French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
1910s French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Brass
1880s French Hollywood Regency Black French Antique Commode
18th Century French Directoire Black French Antique Commode
Belgian Black Marble
18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Black French Antique Commode
19th Century French Chinoiserie Black French Antique Commode
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Black French Antique Commode
Wood
19th Century French French Provincial Black French Antique Commode
Brass
19th Century French Empire Black French Antique Commode
Marble
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Black French Antique Commode
Carrara Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Black French Antique Commode
Kingwood, Rosewood, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Black French Antique Commode
Metal
1830s French Empire Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Silver, Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XV Black French Antique Commode
Lacquer
19th Century French Louis XV Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French French Provincial Black French Antique Commode
Marble
19th Century French Neoclassical Black French Antique Commode
Wood
Late 19th Century European Napoleon III Black French Antique Commode
Bronze
1770s French Directoire Black French Antique Commode
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century British British Colonial Black French Antique Commode
Brass
1880s French Empire Black French Antique Commode
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Black French Antique Commode
Late 19th Century French Black French Antique Commode
17th Century French French Provincial Black French Antique Commode
Brass
1850s French Black French Antique Commode
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Black French Antique Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black French Antique 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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