French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Place of Origin: French
French Louis XVI Style Marble Top Bronze Mounted Commode By Maison Forest
By Maison Forest
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 33 3/4 in W: 57 1/4 in D: 21 in
An extraordinary French Louis XVI style bronze-mounted commode by the renowned Parisian maker Maison Forest, one of the most respect...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XV Style Commode
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An exquisite and finely constructed Louis XV style chest of three drawers, with original pink- veined marble top and fabulous floral marquetry inlay...
Category
19th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Fine French Transition Louis XV XVI Style Chest Sideboard
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning, rare, and very fine quality French Transitional Louis XV - Louis XVI style mahogany inlaid marble-top chest after Jean-François Oeben / Jean-Henri Riesener.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in France, born in the late 19th / early 20th century, exceptionally executed Parisian work, retaining the original shaped marble top with contoured molded edge, over conforming solid mahogany case extensively inlaid with rich floral decoration and geometric trompe l'oeil marquetry-work. Embellished with finely sculpted and chisled gilt bronze ormolu mounts, the case fitted with three high quality locking bar mounted cabinet doors, each adorned with matched ornate escutcheon and opening thanks to the original keys, revealing a mahogany finished interior with single shelf. Featuring rare and exotic woods inlaid, all rising on bronze mounted transitional cabriole legs, ending in the finest quality patinated bronze sabots.
Its three doors do not interfere with its delicate marquetry with decorations of geometric cubes and beautiful flowers on gilt gold ground, its two flat uprights with cut sides inviting finesse and harmony, while its bronzes, with antique motifs indicate the return to refined classic taste.
A fine example of the Transition style, this chest subtly combines Louis XV marquetry with shapes that are already more rectilinear. From the middle of the 18th century, certain French artists, at the head of which the architects Blondel and Contant d'Ivry as well as the painter Louis-Joseph Le Lorrain, rose up against the excesses of the rococo style and advocated a calming of lines by the use of classical or even ancient principles. If the "Greek" style was too categorical a response to these requests, the Transition style, soon launched by the Marquis de Marigny, brother of Madame de Pompadour and Minister of the Arts, was much more measured and appreciated. Dutch cabinetmaker Matthijs Horrix was also front and center, a leader a Transition style.
Celebrated ebanista Jean-François Oeben was one of the leaders of this new taste, with Jean-Henri Riesener following in the 19th century. Oeben a genius with inlay, he gave birth to several patterns, both sober and elegant, such as the marquetry of bottomless cubes, which was adopted by many of his colleagues including Jacques Dautriche and Charles Chevallier.
Jean-François Oeben was particularly known for his "Louis XV or Transition furniture, adorned with leaf veneers, flower inlays or geometric patterns", according to Pierre Kjellberg (Le Mobilier français du XVIIIe, éditions de l'Amateur, 1989). A small secretary in the Transition cabinet...
Category
19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Chocolate Louis XV Style Commode
Located in Houston, TX
A vintage French Louis XV style commode newly painted in a super high gloss dark chocolate finish. This "lacquer-like" cabinet has a grey marble top, two drawers and bronze ormolu de...
Category
Mid-20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XV Painted Commode
Located in Doylestown, PA
A charming Louis XV period commode in original yellow painted finish, with 3 drawers with bronze drawer pulls, short scroll feet and its original conforming painted wood top. Circa 1...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Provincial Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
$3,600 Sale Price
44% Off
18th Century Country French Painted Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique French country commode, having a pale blue and ivory painted finish, its rectangular molded top over double-stacked drawers with foliate handles of brass and matching escutch...
Category
18th Century Country Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French 20th Century Louis XVI Style Fruitwood Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This marble-topped fruitwood commode from France is a more recent (1900s) interpretation of a Louis XVI original, such a distinct style that brings regal refinement to any interior f...
Category
20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French Louis XV Transition Marble-Top Commode Sauteuse, Late 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This refined French commode sauteuse, dating from the late 18th century, is an elegant example of the Louis XV Transition style. Crafted with great attention to detail, the piece com...
Category
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Signed Maison Jansen Brass Mounted Chinoiserie Marble Top Louis XVI Commode
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Maison Jansen Chinoiserie Paint-Decorated Marble-Top Commode – Exquisite French Neoclassical Craftsmanship
This exceptional Maison Jansen chinoiserie paint-decorated marble-top comm...
Category
1940s Louis XVI Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Rare Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Chinese Lacquer Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
A Rare Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Chinese Lacquer cabinet, c. 1750 (Regence Period)
A truly magnificent, monumental, and one of a kind cabinet, painted throughout with gi...
Category
18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Ormolu
French Regence Tulipwood and Kingwood Parquetry Commode
Located in Nashville, TN
Primarily of tulipwood and kingwood with heavy gilded drawer mounts . Sturdy . Presents very well . The drawers reflecting the fabled tulip by the gilt rosettes. The veneers laid in...
Category
18th Century Régence Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Tulipwood
$7,600 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century French Louis Phillipe Walnut Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
19th century Louis Philippe commode or chest of drawers from France in walnut The entire case is made up from wonderfully grained book matched walnut veneer. Constructed of four draw...
Category
1840s Louis Philippe Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century French Petite Commode Side Cabinet / Louis XVI Style
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Step into a realm of unrivaled grandeur with this extraordinary 19th century French petite commode sideboard cabinet, masterfully crafted in the esteemed Louis XVI style. Every deta...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Louis XV Commode by Andre Antoine Lardin, France, Circa 1750
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Outstanding example of 18th century Louis XV commode with beautiful marquetry work and exquisite marble top. This commode features five separate drawers with bronze ormolu mounts. At...
Category
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Kingwood
20th Century Inlaid Wood Marble Top Louis XVI Style Half Moon French Commode
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
A half-moon dresser, early 20th-century France. A Louis XVI-style furniture finely inlaid with walnut, mahogany, maple, ebonized wood, and fruitwood, with gilded and chiseled bronze ...
Category
1920s Louis XVI Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
18th Century French Louis XV Chest of Drawers, Palisander, 1740s
Located in Greven, DE
Antique French Louis XV or Baroque Commode
France
Rosewood
Louis XV around 1740
Dimensions: H x W x D: 83 x 121 x 64 cm
Description:
French four-bay chest of drawers from the midd...
Category
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Palisander
19th Century French Louis XVI Commode Circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 19th century French Louis XVI commode, crafted in bleached oak, is a timeless testament to neoclassical design. With three spacious drawers adorned with delicate floral ...
Category
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Pair Pierre Cardin for Roche Bobois Low Chests, c 1980s
By Roche Bobois, Pierre Cardin
Located in Norwalk, CT
These glamorous low cabinets by Pierre Cardin feature gold washed brass with opalescent lacquered shell detail. The main body of the chests are finished in high gloss lacquer. The la...
Category
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French 18th Century Commode
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This is a beautiful French 18th Century Louis XVI Commode. It is made of mahogany with wonderful Key lock hardware.
Category
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
18th century French Regency Bronze Mounted Commode By Louis Pelletier c. 1760
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite French Louis XV bronze-mounted commode is attributed to Louis Pelletier, one of the distinguished 18th-century ébénistes of Paris. With its serpentine front, bombe sid...
Category
1760s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Breccia Marble
Antique French Louis Philippe Style Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Astoria, NY
A handsome late 19th-century French Louis Philippe dresser sourced from Provence. Hand-crafted from walnut with minimal design and clean lines. Structurally restored and gently refin...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis Philippe Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Burl Walnut Commode
Located in High Point, NC
19th century burl walnut commode from France. The top is made from one single board of gorgeously grained walnut. The top follows down to simple sides, also in nicely grained walnu...
Category
19th Century Louis Philippe Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut, Burl
A French Louis XVI Style Walnut 3-Drawer Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
in the neoclassical taste, the rectangular top with turret rear and front corners over a conforming body with 3 paneled long drawers flanked by fluted turrets; all raised on turned t...
Category
Early 1900s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers
Located in High Point, NC
19th century chest of drawers from France. The marble top is made from Carrara marble and has been replaced. This piece has four drawers all with faux bamboo applied moldings turne...
Category
19th Century Art Nouveau Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble
19th Century Louis XV Style French Dark Ocean Blue Chinoiserie Commode
Located in Hastings, GB
Spectacular late 19th century French marble top chinoiserie bombe commode in the Louis XV style. The raised chinoiserie decoration set against the beautiful dark ocean blue body, top...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Pine
19th Century French Louis XV Style Dore
Ormulu Mounts Marble Top Commode
By François Linke
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This 19th century French Louis XV style commode with doré ormolu mounts and marble top is a stunning example of refined craftsmanship and timeless elegance. Exquisitely constructed, ...
Category
1880s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French marble top commode made of bookmatched burl mahogany and decorative Empire style ormolu. The commode’s top is a Saint Anne marble with curved front edges making for a durabl...
Category
19th Century Empire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Pair of French Louis XV Style Marble Top Inlaid Chests
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of French 19th century chests crafted in exotic woods including mahogany and kingwood featuring the original beveled marble tops, two drawer cases with geometric inla...
Category
19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair of Robin
s Egg Blue and Gilded French Louis XVI Style Distressed Commodes
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This elegant pair of French Louis XVI style commodes captures the refined neoclassical spirit of 18th-century France, beautifully finished in a soft robin’s egg blue paint with gilt ...
Category
1950s Louis XVI Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
$3,160 Sale Price / set
54% Off
Beautifully Inlaid French Bronze Mounted Marble Top Bombe Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This French bombe commode is a stunning example of 19th-century craftsmanship, richly decorated with intricate floral marquetry and mounted with gilt-bronze ormolu. The commode featu...
Category
1920s Louis XV Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$1,996 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century French Chest of Drawers
Located in High Point, NC
18th century French chest of drawers made from oak and walnut. The top is made from oak and has a serpentine and beveled edge aro...
Category
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Oak, Walnut
A Magnificent French Ormolu-Mounted Green Painted Chinoiserie Commode
Located in Queens, NY
A Magnificent French Ormolu-Mounted Green Painted Chinoiserie Commode with Original Marble Top
An exceptional French ormolu-mounted commode, richly decorated in vibrant green polych...
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Serpentine Front Commode in Bleached Oak
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Late 18th Century French serpentine front commode.
Beautiful craftsmanship from the region of Alsace. In bleached oak with three smooth running drawers.
Circa 1780.
Category
18th Century Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Oak
Superb Bronze Mounted French Louis XV Marble Top Commode, circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This superb French Louis XV commode, circa 1900, is a remarkable example of fine craftsmanship and elegant design. Crowned with a beautifully contoured marble top in warm tones of cr...
Category
Early 1900s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$3,116 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Fine Quality 18th century Carved Walnut French Louis XV Style Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exceptional 18th century French Louis XV style commode is a fine example of the elegance and craftsmanship associated with the Rococo period. Crafted from rich solid walnut, the...
Category
1780s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
$3,916 Sale Price
20% Off
French 18th century Louis XVI Demilune Commode by Schey
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A rare example from the atelier of furniture maker Fidelis Schey circa 1780, made in Paris. The demilune-commode is topped with dark, Saint Anne marble that is shaped specifically to...
Category
18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Louis XVI Walnut Chest of Drawers with Brass Inlay, France, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Louis XVI walnut chest of drawers opening on the front with five drawers arranged in three rows, exemplifying the clarity and decorative restraint of late 18th-century Fren...
Category
18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Painted Empire Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire commode from the 19th century, updated more recently with paint in layered & scraped faux finish that wouldn’t look out of place with Gustavian style furnishings. The...
Category
19th Century Empire Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Louis XVI Period 1790s Walnut Three Drawer Commode with Fluted Side Posts
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI period walnut commode circa 1790 with three drawers, linear brass hardware, cylindrical tapered legs and rounded fluted side posts. Step into the elegance of the F...
Category
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Commode was hand-crafted from select French walnut, and features timeless architecture inspired by the ancient Greek and Roman masters. The subtl...
Category
1890s Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Industrial Double-Sided Pine Chest of Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From the heart of a Parisian workshop, this double-sided chest of drawers is a rare industrial artifact with timeless charisma. Crafted in the early 20th century from richly patinate...
Category
1920s Industrial Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Steel
Petite Antique Louis XVI Semainier
Located in Austin, TX
French antique semainier in the Louis XVI style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany that has been fully ebonized and finished with a lustrous French po...
Category
1920s Louis XVI Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Period Chest of Drawers by Dominique
By Dominique
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers from the Art Deco period in France by iconic furniture stylist Dominique. This piece has two dovetailed drawers each featuring brass knobs. The chest is made of soli...
Category
1940s Art Deco Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode Médallier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine and Impressive French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany and Parquetry Commode a Vantaux, after the model Antoine Gaudreaux's 'Commode Médallier du Roi Louis ...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$56,025 Sale Price
55% Off
1900s French Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers With Marble Top
Located in High Point, NC
This 1900s French faux bamboo chest of drawers features a beautifully grained wooden frame accented with carved faux bamboo details, giving the piece a refined yet relaxed character....
Category
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
René and Gilbert Schmitt cabinet “Les Riches Heures du Duc de Berry” 1940s
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large French sideboard from the 1940s by René and Gilbert Schmitt. Solid oak structure with a ceruse finish. The cabinet is decorated with a superb painting on the doors entitled “Ri...
Category
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Oak
A Fine Pair French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Marquetry
Ormolu Commodes
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine matched pair of French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted (Ormolu) tulipwood, kingwood and satinwood floral marquetry Bombé his and her's commodes with marbl...
Category
Early 1900s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Louis XV–Style Painted Chests with Antiqued Marbled-Foxed Mirror Tops
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A graceful and refined pair of Louis XV–style painted chests, finished in a soft, patinated cream with gilt accents and topped with stunning antiqued mirrors that have developed a ri...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XV French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Raymond Loewy DF 2000 Mid Century Jewelry Chest
By Raymond Loewy
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Raymond Loewy for Doubinsky Freres jewelry chest circa mid 1970’s. This all original example has lipstick red molded plastic drawer fronts, rosewood trim and opens at the top and bot...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Plastic, Rosewood
French Empire Style Mahogany Commode with Marble Top
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a very mellow, stylish mahogany French Empire chest of drawers with a light gray marble top with straight edge over frieze drawer and three long, graduated drawers flanked by...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Fantastic Hand-made Country French Dark Walnut Louis XV Bombe Dresser Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fantastic hand-made Louis XV style bombe commode is a timeless example of fine French country craftsmanship. Constructed from solid dark walnut, the dresser showcases a warm, ri...
Category
1940s French Provincial Vintage French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
$3,000 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century Two Drawer Rococo Burl Walnut Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very attractive late 18th century Italian two drawer serpentine front burl Walnut commode resting on cabriole legs. Nicely inlaid and veneered cross banded and quartered paneled Wa...
Category
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Regence - Louis XV Chest of Drawers, Rosewood, France, circa 1730
Located in Greven, DE
Louis XV chest of drawers with fire-gilt fittings
France (Paris)
Rosewood
Louis XV around 1730
Dimensions: H x W x D: 85 x 137 x 66 cm
Description:
Early Louis XV commode, so-call...
Category
1720s Louis XV Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Antique French, Louis XVI Chest of Drawers Commode, Carrara Marble
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique 19th French, Louis XVI style chest of drawers topped with a white Carrara marble, fluted legs finished with golden bronze clogs.
Dovetailed drawers with brass details, and a...
Category
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Louis XVI Guillaume Grohé Style Bedside Cabinet
Located in Miami, FL
A rare and impressive French mahogany parquetry bedside cabinet in style important 19th century ébéniste (cabinetmaker) Grohe Frères. This magnificent cabinet is exquisitely handcraf...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
19th Century Louis XVI Bronze, Wood and Marble Commode by François Linke, France
By Jean-François Leleu, François Linke
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 19th century Louis XVI bronze, wood, and marble commode by François Linke after a Model by Jean-François Leleu, France
By: Francois Linke, Jean-François Leleu (in the style of)...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze, Copper, Tin
19th Century French Neoclassical Style Painted Commode
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French neoclassical style painted commode.
Stunning 19th century French Neoclassical walnut commode or chest of drawers...
Category
19th Century Neoclassical Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Oak Chest of Drawers With Marble Top
Located in High Point, NC
This 19th Century French Louis XVI oak chest of drawers with marble top embodies the restrained elegance and balanced proportions characteristic of the period. The faintly whitewashe...
Category
19th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome walnut & marble commode from France, an 18th century original in the Louis XVI style, fitting with traditional to transitional interiors equally well. The removable stone ...
Category
18th Century Louis XVI Antique French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
A quality French Louis XVI style mahogany petite marble top commode, C 1910.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The shaped marble top is inset within a bronze gallery above a shaped case with two drawers, all supported by turned and tapering legs.
A perfect spot to display your favorite objec...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XVI French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique French Commodes for Sale on 1stDibs
Shopping for an antique French commode or 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.
During Louis XIV's reign, the commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk. 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.
At 1stDibs, find antique and vintage French commodes and chests of drawers for sale — shop Rococo-style commodes, Empire-style commodes, Louis XVI-style commodes and other antique furniture today.
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