Brass Inlay Chest
Late 20th Century French Régence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century German Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 1800s Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass, Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Edwardian Dressers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Korean Scholar s Objects
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine Hollywood Regency Trunks and Luggage
Stone, Brass
Antique 19th Century Danish Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1920s European Models and Miniatures
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Dressers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Night Stands
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Jewelry Boxes
Brass, Bronze
Antique 1860s English Desk Sets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Brass
Antique 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Antique 1820s American Federal Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century European Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century British George II Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century Blanket Chests
Brass
Antique 19th Century North Korean Blanket Chests
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Mahogany
1990s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1770s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Indonesian Blanket Chests
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Latvian Modern Sideboards
Brass
1990s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s Italian Régence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century English Boxes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Moroccan Tribal Trunks and Luggage
Coral, Malachite, Silver, Brass, Copper, Steel
Antique Early 19th Century Moroccan Tribal Trunks and Luggage
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Pink Coral, Silver, Brass, Copper, Steel
Antique Early 18th Century French Régence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Blanket Chests
Brass
20th Century Indian British Colonial Blanket Chests
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Pakistani Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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Brass Inlay Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
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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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