Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1920s French Industrial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
Late 20th Century British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood, Rattan
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s Japanese Anglo-Japanese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Wood
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo
Late 20th Century Italian Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Dutch Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century German Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1940s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Mahogany
1770s Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Boxwood, Fruitwood, Walnut, Burl
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine, Paint
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
19th Century Korean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 18th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century German Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1950s Unknown Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1860s Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
Early 19th Century Danish Folk Art Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Pine, Paint
1990s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s Hungarian Rustic Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Laminate, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1860s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
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.





