Italian Burl Chest
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Giltwood, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Night Stands
Burl
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Antique 1720s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Night Stands
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
20th Century Italian Biedermeier Dressers
Olive
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Night Stands
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ebony, Walnut, Burl
Antique 1780s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut, Burl
Antique 1830s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pearwood, Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1930s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pearwood, Walnut, Burl
Antique 1880s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pearwood, Walnut, Burl
Antique 1780s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Pearwood, Burl
20th Century Italian Adam Style Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Dressers
Mirror, Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Console Tables
Walnut, Burl
20th Century Italian Federal Secretaires
Brass
20th Century Italian Louis XV Models and Miniatures
Burl
Antique Mid-18th Century Renaissance Revival Dressers
Burl
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Night Stands
Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1920s Italian Art Nouveau Night Stands
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Dressers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century Baroque Jewelry Boxes
Lapis Lazuli, Metal, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu, Pewter
20th Century Italian Louis XV Models and Miniatures
Burl
Late 20th Century Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Beech, Fruitwood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Renaissance Commodes and Chests...
Walnut, Burl
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut, Burl
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut, Burl
Antique 1850s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut, Burl
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s Italian Jewelry Boxes
Early 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash, Burl
20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Late 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ebony, Olive
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech, Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Late 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Vintage 1960s Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash, Burl
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Italian Burl Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is an Italian Burl 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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