Mahogany Tallboy
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 1800s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English George III Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British George III Commodes and Chests ...
Antique 1750s Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique 1880s Danish Biedermeier Dressers
Mahogany
Antique 1880s Danish Biedermeier Dressers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 1800s Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Russian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1770s British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Louis XVI Commodes and Chests o...
Mahogany
Antique 1770s British Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century Georgian Linen Presses
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Mahogany
Antique 1810s British George III Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 1810s British George III Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 1810s British George III Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1820s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
Antique Mid-18th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cupboards
Mahogany, Walnut, Wood
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British George III Commodes and Chests ...
Mahogany
Antique 1790s British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 1850s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1790s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Linen Presses
Mahogany
Antique 1850s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1850s European Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
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Mahogany Tallboy For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Mahogany Tallboy?
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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