Hand Painted Chest Drawers
Antique 1860s Chinese High Victorian Furniture
Oak
Antique 19th Century Swedish Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Late Victorian Vanities
Mirror, Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes
Giltwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes
Giltwood, Paint, Fabric, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cabinets
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Dressers
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Dressers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass
Late 20th Century European Louis XV Night Stands
Wood, Oak
2010s American Dressers
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass, Oak, Lacquer, Paint
2010s American Dressers
Glass, Art Glass, Oak
Early 20th Century Chinese Furniture
Hardwood
Antique Late 18th Century American Chippendale Painted Furniture
Pine
2010s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Acrylic, Wood
Antique 1890s French Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Acrylic, Lacquer, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1890s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Acrylic, Lacquer, Wood
1990s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1830s British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 1830s German Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1860s European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1990s Italian Classical Roman Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1770s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Antique 1790s Italian Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1890s French Belle Époque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Vintage 1970s American Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 18th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 1900s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1890s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century Belgian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Paint
Antique 1810s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1850s Mongolian Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Belgian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 18th Century Belgian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
21st Century and Contemporary French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of...
Beech
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood
Antique 1890s French Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1890s French Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
- 1
- ...
Hand Painted Chest Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Hand Painted Chest Drawers?
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.
Read More
37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.