Used Commodes
18th Century and Earlier French Used Commodes
Marble
Early 20th Century Used Commodes
Walnut
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Used Commodes
Brass
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Used Commodes
Hardwood, Teak
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Used Commodes
Wood
18th Century French Used Commodes
Walnut
1770s Italian Rococo Used Commodes
Brass
18th Century French Used Commodes
Fruitwood
Late 20th Century American American Classical Used Commodes
Marble
18th Century Italian Used Commodes
Marble, Ormolu
1870s French Napoleon III Used Commodes
Marble, Brass
1790s Italian Neoclassical Used Commodes
Wood, Paint
18th Century and Earlier French Used Commodes
Marble
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Used Commodes
Brass
Late 18th Century Italian Used Commodes
Paint
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Used Commodes
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Walnut
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Used Commodes
Paint
Mid-19th Century Italian Used Commodes
Fruitwood, Walnut
Late 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Used Commodes
Brass
19th Century European Louis XV Used Commodes
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Dutch Rococo Used Commodes
Padouk
Early 19th Century Baltic Used Commodes
Marble
1760s French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Ormolu
Late 18th Century English George III Used Commodes
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Used Commodes
Satinwood, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Fruitwood
18th Century Italian Used Commodes
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Italian Used Commodes
Walnut
1790s British Georgian Used Commodes
Brass
1940s French Used Commodes
Brass
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Used Commodes
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Brass
Early 20th Century European Neoclassical Used Commodes
Kingwood
Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Used Commodes
Walnut
19th Century Rustic Used Commodes
Marble, Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century French Empire Used Commodes
Marble
19th Century French Charles X Used Commodes
Satinwood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Bronze
1830s Biedermeier Used Commodes
Iron
Late 19th Century Spanish Empire Used Commodes
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood
1830s Italian Used Commodes
Pearwood, Walnut, Burl
Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble
Early 20th Century French Used Commodes
Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble
Early 20th Century English Georgian Used Commodes
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Used Commodes
Metal, Bronze
18th Century Used Commodes
Satinwood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Regency Used Commodes
Marble
18th Century French Used Commodes
Oak
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Bronze
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Used Commodes For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Used Commodes?
Finding the Right Commodes And 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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