Petite Chest
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Jewelry Boxes
Elm
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes
Burl
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Sideboards
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Dressers
Brass
Early 20th Century Korean Cabinets
Brass
Antique 18th Century Italian Decorative Boxes
Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Palisander
Antique 19th Century Indian Decorative Boxes
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Night Stands
Brass
Early 20th Century Mauritanian Tribal Decorative Boxes
Brass, Copper, Iron
Late 20th Century European Louis XV Night Stands
Wood, Oak
Antique 19th Century Italian Buffets
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Brass
Early 20th Century Country Night Stands
Tapestry, Wood
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Thai Sculptures and Carvings
Ceramic
Vintage 1970s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Unknown George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Canadian French Provincial Dressers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Ormolu, Metal
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century Maltese Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
Antique 19th Century German Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1850s British Early Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sideboards
Oak
Vintage 1910s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1910s French Louis XVI Side Tables
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Vintage 1930s English Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 20th Century Italian Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Dutch Neoclassical Revival Commodes and Chests of D...
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Walnut
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Cabinets
Elm
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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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