French Pair Commode
Early 20th Century French Demi-lune Tables
Marble, Bronze
20th Century End Tables
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Metal
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Marble
Vintage 1980s American French Provincial Night Stands
Oak
Antique 1880s French Louis Philippe End Tables
Wood, Paint
20th Century Italian French Provincial Night Stands
Hardwood
Late 20th Century Colombian Hollywood Regency Dressers
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Night Stands
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1950s American Empire Night Stands
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Rococo Night Stands
Wood
Early 20th Century French Directoire End Tables
Carrara Marble, Brass
Vintage 1930s Early Victorian Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Cabinets
Bronze
Vintage 1940s French End Tables
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century French Night Stands
Vintage 1940s French Hollywood Regency Night Stands
Metal
Late 20th Century Asian Louis XV Night Stands
Wood
Late 20th Century Louis XVI Cabinets
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Empire Night Stands
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French End Tables
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Pedestals
Late 20th Century Louis XVI Dressers
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage 1940s French Sideboards
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Side Tables
Antique Early 19th Century French Night Stands
Vintage 1960s French Provincial Side Tables
Marble
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Night Stands
Antique 19th Century French Night Stands
20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French End Tables
Early 20th Century French Demi-lune Tables
Early 20th Century French Louis XV End Tables
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Regency Night Stands
Maple
Antique Early 1800s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Fruitwood
Antique 1810s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1970s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1950s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1950s French Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1880s French Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
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French Pair Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Pair Commode?
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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