Mirrored Chests
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
20th Century Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Crystal, Brass
Vintage 1980s American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1970s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Bohemian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wicker, Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
2010s Unknown Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1980s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1970s Canadian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Glass
Vintage 1970s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Art Glass, Mirror, Walnut
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Unknown Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Shell
Vintage 1960s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1970s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Teak
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Glass
Vintage 1970s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Ch...
Glass, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Ch...
Late 20th Century Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
20th Century French Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Finding the Right Commodes And 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A chest of drawers with a mirror attached is called a bureau. This type of case piece is usually waist-high with a mirror that rests on the top of the structure. They are mainly used in bedrooms. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary chests of drawers from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
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