Italian Burl Chest
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Walnut, Burl
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut, Burl
Antique 1890s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Night Stands
Porcelain, Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl, Olive
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests o...
Walnut, Burl, Kingwood
Antique Early 1900s Italian Restauration Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Secretaires
Olive, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Side Tables
Wood
Antique Early 18th Century Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Dressers
Birch, Burl
Vintage 1960s Italian Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Olive, Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Burl
Antique Early 1800s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Night Stands
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century Italian Games
Brass
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Dressers
Fabric, Glass, Mirror, Maple, Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Wood, Burl, Parchment Paper
20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Vintage 1960s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Vintage 1930s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Burl
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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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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