Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1980s Philippine Bohemian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Reed
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
19th Century Chinese British Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1890s Korean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Korean Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Chinese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Turkish Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
1980s Japanese Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Rattan
19th Century Japanese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
2010s Chinese Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Korean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Philippine Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan
2010s Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Teak
1920s Burmese British Colonial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
2010s Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Philippine Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mother-of-Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Bohemian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
2010s Indian Agra Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
2010s Philippine Adam Style Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1990s Philippine Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Wood
19th Century Indian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Padouk
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Indian British Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique and Vintage Chests of Drawers and Commodes for Sale: Find Art Deco Commodes and Mid-Century Modern Chests of Drawers on 1stDibs
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.





