Petite Chest
Antique 19th Century Spanish Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Busts
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century Regency Dry Bars
Marble, Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Fruitwood, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1940s Swedish Art Deco Night Stands
Birch, Fir
Antique Late 19th Century American Primitive Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Spanish Hollywood Regency Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 1890s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Apothecary Cabinets
Brass
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1890s French Gustavian Dressers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1910s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Decorative Boxes
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Early 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Teak
Mid-20th Century French Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood, Teak
20th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s Unknown Rustic Trunks and Luggage
Teak
Antique Early 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1930s Japanese Showa Furniture
Iron
Antique 19th Century Indian British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1910s American Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Blanket Chests
Metal
20th Century Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Petite Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Petite 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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