Used Commodes
18th Century French French Provincial Used Commodes
Cherry
19th Century Italian Used Commodes
Walnut
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Used Commodes
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Walnut, Fruitwood
20th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Bronze
19th Century French Restauration Used Commodes
Marble, Brass
1950s French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Carrara Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Bronze
Mid-18th Century French Louis XIV Used Commodes
Walnut
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Used Commodes
Wood
20th Century Italian Louis XV Used Commodes
Siena Marble, Metal
18th Century French Used Commodes
Ormolu
Mid-19th Century Italian Used Commodes
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Used Commodes
Wood, Paint
1750s Italian Used Commodes
Wood
Late 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Used Commodes
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Marble
Early 19th Century French Empire Used Commodes
Mahogany
1960s American Used Commodes
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Brass
18th Century French Baroque Used Commodes
Wood
1880s Louis XV Used Commodes
Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Used Commodes
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Used Commodes
Bronze
19th Century French Neoclassical Used Commodes
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Used Commodes
Wood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Used Commodes
Marble, Brass
19th Century Victorian Used Commodes
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century English George III Used Commodes
Mahogany
1890s French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Marble
19th Century French Aesthetic Movement Used Commodes
Wood
1790s Italian Louis XVI Used Commodes
Ash
1930s French Art Deco Used Commodes
Marble, Gold Leaf
18th Century French Louis XIV Used Commodes
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Empire Used Commodes
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Louis Philippe Used Commodes
Walnut, Burl
18th Century European Used Commodes
Walnut
20th Century Portuguese Art Deco Used Commodes
Brass
Early 1800s Italian Used Commodes
Bronze
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Used Commodes
Iron
Early 19th Century Austrian Neoclassical Used Commodes
Wood
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Marble
18th Century Scandinavian Baroque Used Commodes
Walnut
1920s French Art Deco Used Commodes
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Used Commodes
Burl
20th Century Italian Rococo Used Commodes
Marble
18th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Walnut, Paint
18th Century French Louis XVI Used Commodes
Wood, Walnut
19th Century French French Provincial Used Commodes
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Used Commodes
Marble
19th Century French Empire Used Commodes
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Louis XV Used Commodes
Bronze
- 1
- ...
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.
Read More
37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.