Venetian Chest
Vintage 1940s European Louis XV Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Dressers
Burl, Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Olive
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Jewelry Boxes
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fir
Vintage 1920s Italian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1880s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Paint
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Unknown Adam Style Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Vienna Secession Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Vintage 1920s Italian Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar, Pine
Vintage 1910s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1910s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Dressers
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Dressers
Mirror
Antique 19th Century Italian Cabinets
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Dressers
Mirror, Oak
20th Century Italian Rococo Side Tables
Wood
20th Century Italian Books
Paper
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Ebony
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 18th Century Italian Furniture
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Venetian Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Venetian 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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