Ebonized Wood Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century Spanish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 1810s Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Rosewood
20th Century Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1890s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal, Brass
Vintage 1970s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1820s Swedish Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Moorish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Vintage 1930s French Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 1810s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Dressers
Glass, Wood
20th Century Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1920s Chinese Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Brass
Early 20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century British Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Bone, Wood, Mahogany, Paint
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1950s Argentine Neoclassical Console Tables
Wood, Glass
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Wood, Masonite
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Dressers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Sideboards
Wood, Walnut
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Night Stands
Wood
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Cabinets
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Pedestals
Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Desks
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1960s French Hollywood Regency Night Stands
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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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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