Petite Chest
Antique Late 19th Century French Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of ...
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1970s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
Vintage 1930s Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1830s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century Chinese Side Tables
Elm
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Teak
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Models and Miniatures
Marble
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Cabinets
Elm
Antique 19th Century Chinese Furniture
Elm
Antique 19th Century Chinese Night Stands
Elm
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Night Stands
Walnut
Vintage 1950s French Night Stands
Antique 19th Century Chinese Console Tables
Elm
Vintage 1940s Italian Night Stands
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Rustic Side Tables
Elm
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Night Stands
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Console Tables
Elm
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Side Tables
Marble
Early 20th Century French End Tables
Vintage 1970s Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Satinwood
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood, Cherry
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Teak
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Fruitwood
Antique 1860s American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Wood
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Night Stands
Bronze
Antique 1890s French French Provincial Benches
Oak
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Boxes
Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Boxes
Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Side Tables
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Cabinets
Mid-20th Century American Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century Neoclassical Jewelry Boxes
Metal, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Trunks and Luggage
Rattan, Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Trunks and Luggage
Rattan, Wood, Lacquer
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Night Stands
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Brass
Antique 1880s Turkish Moorish Apothecary Cabinets
Pine, Fruitwood
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Elm
Antique 19th Century Guatemalan Spanish Colonial Boxes
Cedar
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Night Stands
Metal, Bronze
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Night Stands
Marble
Vintage 1960s Mexican Spanish Colonial Cabinets
Iron
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Night Stands
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Cabinets
Cherry
Antique 19th Century English Cabinets
Mahogany
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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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