Bow Front Chest
Antique 19th Century German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1940s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
Antique 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood, Birch
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Cabinets
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s Unknown Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Models and Miniatures
Antique 19th Century English Dressers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1790s British Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century English Furniture
Walnut
Vintage 1920s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Hepplewhite Dressers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Dressers
Marble
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Georgian Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 2000s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Boxwood, Mahogany
Antique 1810s English Regency Models and Miniatures
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1930s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Hepplewhite Models and Miniatures
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Dressers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Sheraton Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Commodes and Chests of ...
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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Bow Front Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Bow Front 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.
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