Period Queen Anne Highboy
Antique 1740s English Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-17th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century British Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut
Antique 18th Century British Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
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Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood
Antique 1760s English George III Dressers
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century American Classical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 17th Century English William and Mary Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century American Chippendale Dressers
Maple
20th Century William and Mary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Georgian Dressers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
Antique 1790s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Pine
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Mahogany
Antique Mid-17th Century British Charles II Cabinets
Walnut
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Bookcases
Spruce
Antique 17th Century British William and Mary Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Oak
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Recent Sales
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Desks
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Antique Late 18th Century North American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests ...
Walnut
Antique Early 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Cherry, Maple
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Card Tables and Tea...
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Lowboys
Antique 18th Century Queen Anne Dressers
Mahogany
A Close Look at queen-anne Furniture
Although named for the last Stuart monarch of England, antique Queen Anne furniture, with its curvy cabriole legs and pad feet, has its origins in the earlier reign of King William III, which began in 1689 and ended with his death in 1702. Later evolving during Anne’s rule from 1702–14, the style would continue to influence design in the decades after her death.
Sometimes called late Baroque or early Georgian, Queen Anne chairs, bedroom furniture and tables are subdued yet ornate and characterized by a graceful blend of influences ranging from Asian design to classical motifs. Furnishings of this era — with their curvilinear supports and novel emphasis on comfort and versatility — are marked by a shift away from the more opulent and angular William and Mary style.
Chairs designed in the Queen Anne style are more functional and lightweight than their predecessors. They often feature a vase or fiddle-shaped splat, which refers to the central vertical back element, in order to support the spine and plush cushions. Craftsmen of the era predominantly worked in walnut, maple and pine. Any embellishments they introduced in their furnishings were frequently minimal and refined and expressed by way of modest flourishes such as shells or scrolls. Some pieces were more lavish with “japanned” finishes, or varnished interpretations of East Asian lacquer art. Almost every piece of furniture, whether a tea table or desk, included S-shaped, animalistic cabriole legs that end in a paw or claw-and-ball form.
These qualities made Queen Anne furniture popular throughout Europe and North America. Boston and Philadelphia became hubs for the production of this style of furniture, spurred by the arrival of British artisans who fostered a market for well-heeled colonists. While the showier Chippendale style later surpassed it in popularity, Queen Anne’s simple elegance still draws an enduring appreciation.
Find a collection of antique Queen Anne dining tables, seating, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Queen Anne era highboys are part of the American Colonial style of furniture. Ornately constructed and expertly crafted, furniture enthusiasts are always on the lookout for examples of these pieces. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of Queen Anne highboys from some of the world’s top sellers.