Vintage French Chest
20th Century French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Marble
20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Bronze
20th Century French French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Pine
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Wood, Paint
20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Wood, Paint
1940s French French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Wood
20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Marble, Brass
20th Century French French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Paint
Mid-20th Century French Chinoiserie Vintage French Chest
Marble, Brass
1950s Unknown Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble
20th Century French Industrial Vintage French Chest
Wood
1970s French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Wood
1950s French French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Metal
20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble
20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Industrial Vintage French Chest
Oak
20th Century French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Wood
20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Plywood
20th Century French Victorian Vintage French Chest
Bronze
Late 20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Bamboo, Rattan
1960s American Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Bronze
20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Brass
Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century French Rococo Vintage French Chest
Marble
20th Century French Industrial Vintage French Chest
Metal
20th Century French Victorian Vintage French Chest
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Oak
1940s French Hollywood Regency Vintage French Chest
Bronze
Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Marble
20th Century Vintage French Chest
Wood
20th Century French Chinoiserie Vintage French Chest
Marble, Ormolu
1980s French Modern Vintage French Chest
Brass
20th Century French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Brass
20th Century French Art Deco Vintage French Chest
Brass, Bronze
20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Chest
Brass
1940s French Rustic Vintage French Chest
Pine
Late 20th Century French Régence Vintage French Chest
Brass, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Carrara Marble, Brass
1940s French Art Deco Vintage French Chest
Mirror, Beech
20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble, Bronze
1940s French Directoire Vintage French Chest
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Pine
1970s French Vintage French Chest
Brass
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Brass
1940s French Vintage French Chest
Brass
1950s French Louis XV Vintage French Chest
Marble
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Chest
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Carrara Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Vintage French Chest
Carrara Marble, Brass
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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.
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