Queen Anne Highboy
Antique Early 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Brass
Antique Mid-17th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Cabinets
Walnut
Antique 1770s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Queen Anne Commodes and Chests ...
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Dressers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Queen Anne Dressers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century American Dressers
Brass
Antique 1750s American Queen Anne Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Queen Anne Dressers
Maple
Antique 1770s American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Pine
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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 18th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique Early 18th Century British Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut
20th Century American Queen Anne Dressers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Linen Presses
Wood, Maple
Antique Late 18th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1720s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 18th Century British Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Dressers
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Dressers
Antique 1760s American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 1770s American Queen Anne Serving Tables
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Antique Late 18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Maple
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Desks
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests...
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests...
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1740s American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Pine
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Queen Anne Dressers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century English Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century North American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Maple
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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Queen Anne Highboy For Sale on 1stDibs
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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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Queen Anne chairs are named after Queen Anne, the ruler of England from 1702 until 1714. It was known for combining efficient, use-focused design with beautifully elegant detail. Shop a range of Queen Anne chairs from top sellers worldwide on 1stDibs.