French Oak Chest
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Benches
Metal, Brass
Antique 1890s French Trunks and Luggage
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Rustic Cabinets
Oak
Antique 1860s French International Style Buffets
Glass, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Fireplaces and Mantels
Wood
Antique 18th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Fireplaces and Mantels
Wood
Antique 1890s French Gothic Revival Stools
Oak
20th Century French Art Nouveau Cabinets
Oak, Walnut
20th Century French Victorian Night Stands
Oak
20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Night Stands
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Early 1900s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s French Secretaires
Leather, Formica, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of...
Oak
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1850s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Oak
Antique 16th Century French Gothic Blanket Chests
Oak
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests o...
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Oak
Antique Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Blanket Chests
Oak
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Blanket Chests
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Blanket Chests
Iron
Vintage 1970s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Ceramic
Vintage 1920s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIV Blanket Chests
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1980s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of...
Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...
Antique 1790s French Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Beech
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Renaissance Blanket Chests
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Blanket Chests
Oak
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French Oak Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Oak 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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