Serpentine Front Chest
Antique 1780s British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
Antique 18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George III Commodes and Chests ...
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century Hepplewhite Furniture
Boxwood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Serpentine
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Dressers
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Antique 1790s English Sheraton Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Serpentine
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Serpentine
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary French French Provincial Commodes and Ches...
Hardwood
Antique 1890s English Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1740s German Baroque Models and Miniatures
Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century English George IV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century European Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century European George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Serpentine, Other
Antique 1840s English George IV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century English Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Early 20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1890s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Vintage 1930s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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Serpentine Front Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Serpentine Front 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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