Ebonized Wood Drawers
Vintage 1930s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Unknown Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Early 20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1940s Belgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cane
Vintage 1950s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1890s French Victorian Vitrines
Wood
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century Unknown Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1940s French Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Dressers
Wood
Vintage 1940s American End Tables
Nickel
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Dressers
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood, Fruitwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1950s Canadian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1790s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1880s French Victorian Cupboards
Belgian Black Marble
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1950s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s French Sideboards
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut, Wood
2010s American Modern Cabinets
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Cabinets
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Cabinets
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Cabinets
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
20th Century American Cabinets
Vintage 1930s Swedish Sideboards
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Empire Night Stands
Brass
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Wood
20th Century American Console Tables
Steel
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Belgian Cabinets
Amboyna
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Desks
Antique 19th Century French Wardrobes and Armoires
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Ebonized Wood Drawers 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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