French Chest 19th Painted
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Other Dry Bars
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests o...
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century French Dressers
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Buffets
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Buffets
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Dressers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Dressers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gold Leaf
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Dressers
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Art Nouveau Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Pine
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Art Nouveau Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Pine, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
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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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The French painters of the 19th century worked in two styles. Neoclassicism dominated the first half of the century, and Impressionism was the most common style during the second half. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of French paintings.
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