Vintage French Chest
1980s Post-Modern Vintage French Chest
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Brass
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Wood
1970s French Post-Modern Vintage French Chest
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble, Bronze
1980s French Vintage French Chest
Elm
1980s French Vintage French Chest
Elm
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Wood, Burl
1980s French Vintage French Chest
Elm
20th Century Unknown French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble, Bronze
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble
1970s French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Brass
1950s French Industrial Vintage French Chest
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Beech
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Rope
1960s French Vintage French Chest
Pine
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Elm
20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Rattan, Mirror
1940s French Vintage French Chest
Wrought Iron
1940s French Art Deco Vintage French Chest
Brass
1970s French Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Teak
1960s French Vintage French Chest
Teak
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Teak
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Bamboo
20th Century French Neoclassical Vintage French Chest
Brass
1970s French Bohemian Vintage French Chest
Bamboo
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Rosewood
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Rattan
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Cherry
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Vintage French Chest
Chrome
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Wood
1960s French Vintage French Chest
Pine
1960s French Vintage French Chest
Pine
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Vintage French Chest
Walnut
1990s French Modern Vintage French Chest
Wood, Lizard
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Plastic, Rosewood
1960s French Vintage French Chest
Bamboo, Wicker
Late 20th Century French Hollywood Regency Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Wood
1970s French Vintage French Chest
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Bronze
20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Marble, Brass
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Wood
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Brass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Brass
20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Marble, Ormolu
1960s French Hollywood Regency Vintage French Chest
Brass
20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Wood
- 1
- ...
Vintage French Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage French 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.
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.