Biedermeier Butlers Desk
Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Benches
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Velvet
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Chestnut
Antique 1820s German Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Stainless Steel
Antique 1820s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut, Softwood
Antique Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany, Baize
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
Antique 1880s Swedish Victorian Secretaires
Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fir
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fir
Antique 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fir
Antique 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Finding the Right commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Is it 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 a 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.
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.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
28 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.