Wellington Chest
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Cabinets
Oak
Antique 19th Century British Night Stands
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Cabinets
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1860s British Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Apothecary Cabinets
Oak, Paper
Early 20th Century British Colonial Sheffield and Silverplate
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1830s English Early Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1870s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century French Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century English Cabinets
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood, Mahogany
1990s American Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1860s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1840s British Early Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1880s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Apothecary Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Night Stands
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1990s Korean Regency Dining Room Tables
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Satinwood
Antique Mid-19th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Satinwood
Antique 1860s Cabinets
Teak
Antique 1890s Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1860s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 2000s Unknown Adam Style Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
Antique 1880s Eastlake Dressers
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Desks
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Cabinets
Oak
Antique 1890s Victorian Sofas
Wood
Antique 1850s Victorian Sofas
Oak
Antique 1880s Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s British Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1820s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1840s British George IV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1880s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1840s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Apothecary Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Antique 1870s English Early Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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Wellington Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Wellington 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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