Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1940s Chinese Chinoiserie Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Chinese Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1840s Chinese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Canvas, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Philippine Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Granite
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
19th Century Chinese Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1880s Chinese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1950s Indonesian Rustic Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Reclaimed Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lucite, Wood, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s Singaporean Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Russian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rattan, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s Indian Bohemian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1870s Russian Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Mid-19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
1920s Chinese Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Late 20th Century Philippine Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Wood
20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Hardwood
Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Reed
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.





