Tall French Chest Of Drawers
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Belgian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s Unknown Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1850s Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s Argentine Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1960s Italian Egyptian Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1980s French Provincial Cabinets
Wood
Vintage 1940s Belgian Shelves
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Dressers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Dressers
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Shelves
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Cabinets
Oak
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Dressers
Macassar, Wood
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Dressers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Cabinets
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Bookcases
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Cabinets
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Dressers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Dressers
Antique 19th Century French Provincial Cupboards
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Furniture
Rosewood
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Dressers
Satinwood
Early 20th Century French Louis Philippe Wall Mirrors
Silver Leaf
Early 20th Century French Louis Philippe Wall Mirrors
Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Regency Revival Cabinets
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Models and Miniatures
Marble
1950s American Jewelry Boxes
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Dressers
Wood
Antique 1810s French Empire Vases
Porcelain
Vintage 1960s American Louis XVI Dressers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Urns
Tôle
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Buffets
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Buffets
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Buffets
Oak
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Cabinets
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Vitrines
Brass
Antique 1780s Dutch Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Furniture
Tulipwood
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Cabinets
Hardwood
Vintage 1940s French Dressers
Glass, Mirror, Wood
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Dressers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Cabinets
Oak, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Wood, Fruitwood, Kingwood, Mahogany, Rosewood
Antique Early 19th Century French Cabinets
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Marble, Bronze
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Cupboards
Wood
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Mirrors
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
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Tall French Chest Of Drawers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Tall French Chest Of Drawers?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A tall chest of drawers is known as a standard chest of drawers and also as a vertical chest. These are tall and narrow storage pieces. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage tall chests of drawers.
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