Bombay Drawers
Vintage 1980s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1880s Swedish Country Dressers
Pine
Vintage 1930s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 18th Century Austrian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 18th Century Dutch Baroque Linen Presses
Oak, Mahogany
Antique 18th Century Dutch Linen Presses
Mahogany
Antique Early 18th Century Dutch Rococo Linen Presses
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Linen Presses
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Pine
Early 20th Century American Dressers
Bronze
Early 20th Century Hungarian Rococo Bookcases
Wood
Antique Early 18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of D...
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1990s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 16th Century American Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver
Mid-20th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver Leaf
Antique 19th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1980s Italian Bohemian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Dutch Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1980s American Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Goatskin, Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1920s Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1960s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1980s North American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
1990s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
Brass
20th Century Italian Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Burl
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Dressers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Marble
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Bombay Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Bombay Drawers?
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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