Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest
Located in Louisville, KY
This stunning c. 1830's desk/chest is made of fine figured mahogany. The extended top drawer is a fall front secretary that pulls down and out on a brass half-arc track to reveal a s...
Brass
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
American Empire Classical Mahogany Butlers Chest With Drop-Front Desk c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
An exceptional American Empire Classical butler's chest, crafted from mahogany and dating to circa 1840.
Mahogany
Biedermeier Period 19th Century Walnut Butler's Chest with Drop Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Biedermeier period walnut butler's chest from the 19th century with drop front desk, ebonized accents and inlaid escutcheons.
Wood, Walnut
Gustavian Style RARE Butlers Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a very unique Gustavian style 3 drawer Butlers Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Wood
Rhode Island Empire Butler's Chest of Drawers with Desk in Mahogany, circa 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A beautiful example of an early American Empire chest with full-column front and stand-up butlers desk.
Brass
Continental 19th Century Biedermeier St. Butler’s Desk/Commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and unique Continental 19th century Biedermeier st. flamed Mahogany, ebonized Fruitwood, and ormolu butler's desk/commode. The eight drawer chest is raised by square f...
Ormolu
Neoclassic Period French Commode W/Hidden Butler's Secretary & Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Neoclassical commode, with hidden secretary and original hardware, from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique commode from France gives the appearance of being...
Wood
$7,960Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Gilded Ebonized Period French Louis XV Marble Top Butlers Desk Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This monumental French Louis XV period butler’s desk commode is a masterpiece of 18th-century-inspired design, blending elegance, opulence, and utility in one commanding piece. Craft...
Oak
$5,250Sale Price|30% Off
Baker Manor House English George III Mahogany Breakfront China Cabinet Bookcase
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Dayton, OH
Given its age and rarity, These pieces have become highly coveted furnishings. The butler's secretary desk, or butler's chest, originated in the 18th and early 19th centuries as a...
Brass
Butlers Desk / Linen Press
Located in Cloverdale, IN
This Butlers desk features a flame mahogany veneer exterior with solid marble top. The interior opens to a desk with a stunning birdseye maple veneer finish and leather inlay writing...
Mahogany
Early 19th c. Chippendale English Butlers Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
Rare mahogany butlers desk with drawers and pullout writing desk.
Mahogany
Antique 1800s Butler Chest with Desk Drawer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Cherry drop front butler chest with desk drawer.
Wood
Italian Fruitwood Neoclassical Three-Drawer Chest/ Butlers Desk.
Located in Buchanan, MI
An Italian fruitwood neoclassical three-drawer chest. Top drawer drops down as a desk. Measure: Height 30 1/2 x width 25 1/2 x depth 15 1/2 inches.
Ebony, Fruitwood
Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Also known as a lady's desk, this chest was designed to hold jewelry, correspondence and trinkets in its hidden interior drawers. The uppermost drawer pulls out and is hinged to fall...
Fir
Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Comprised of three locking drawers, and a "faux" drawer above which locks and falls to reveal secret drawers and compartments.
Fir
Antique Scottish or English Campaign Butler's Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in Centennial, CO
An elegant and functional antique Scottish or English campaign style butler's desk chest of drawer. Crafted out of teak or sycamore (exterior) and elm (interior) with original brass ...
Brass
A Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed as a case piece for a drawing room, the upper drawer folds down to hold the various bits and pieces a butler might have needed to have at hand. Nowadays, this ty...
Fir
A Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
A fine chest of drawers crafted of mahogany and fir, adorned with hand-cut flame mahogany veneers, the chest features four locking drawers. The upper most drawer, however, has a se...
Sold
H 35.5 in W 36 in D 16 in
Vintage English Mahogany Campaign Butler's Chest of Drawers With Desk (RL)
Located in Centennial, CO
A beautifully crafted vintage English flame mahogany campaign chest fitted with a pullout desk, also called a butler's chest.
Brass
19th Century Swedish Period Karl Johan Butler's Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish period Karl Johan butler's desk or chest with pull-out desk over three drawers.
Wood
Sold
H 37 in W 45 in D 22.5 in
Late 19th / Early 20th Century French Louis XV Butlers Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in Forney, TX
A handsome antique French Louis XV style chest of drawers butler's desk. Late 19th / early 20th century, featuring the original dramatically veined variegated marble slab top wit...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Walnut Carlo X Commode / Butler's Desk
Located in Carmine, TX
Carlo X butler's desk / chest of drawers made in Italy in the mid 1800s using walnut.
Walnut
French Inlaid Rosewood and Kingwood Butlers Desk Dresser Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Description Inlaid. Marble top. Top drawers has open space and 3 drawers with flip down door. 2 doors in middle containing 3 drawers. 1 drawer on bottom. 37 1/8" h x 52" w x 24 1/2" ...
Marble, Brass
Sold
H 38.5 in W 53.25 in D 22.25 in
Gorgeous Solid Cherry Signed Francesco Molon Marble Top Butlers Commode Desk
By Francesco Molon
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous butler's commode with a dropdown desk with cubbies. The commode is made of figured cherry with beautiful brass hardware and a great marble top. Measures 53.25 wide...
Marble
Italian Florentine Giltwood Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk Chest
Located in Forney, TX
Dimensions: (approx) 38" High, 37.5" Wide, 17" Deep; With desk open: 24.5" Deep Clearance to desk: 28" Keywords: Butlers desk, secretary, secretaire, chest of drawers, commode, dre...
Brass
Mahogany 2 Part Campaign Secretary Chest or Butlers Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful 2 part campaign chest with a faux 2 drawer top drawer, dropping down to reveal a secretary interior with tooled green leather inset, pigeon holes, and a single drawer. We...
Sold
H 45.5 in W 43 in L 45.5 in
Antique American Mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' Desk/Secretary Chest, circa 1820
By John Needles
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' desk/secretary chest, circa 1820. The desk made of fine figured mahogany, the top drawer being a fall front secretary with a fitted int...
Mahogany
Sold
H 47 in W 42 in D 20 in
Antique American Empire Carved Mahogany, Tiger Maple & Burl Butler's Chest
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique American Empire flame mahogany butler's chest features bookmatched flame mahogany drawers with tiger maple and burl facing, front drops to reveal writing surface and interior...
Bone, Glass, Mahogany, Burl
Bleached Louis Phillipe Commode with Butler’s Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
A bleached Louis Phillipe commode with butler’s desk and carrara marble top, 19th century. 52 inches wide by 21 inches deep by 39 inches tall
Carrara Marble
Sold
H 42.75 in W 41.75 in D 24.25 in
Antique Sheraton Cherry Butlers Chest with Drop-Front Desk, Circa 1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Sheraton Butler's chest offers paneled cherry construction with drop front desk opening to interior with pigeon holes and drawers over three long drawers, raised on turne...
Cherry
19th Century Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Chest of Drawers
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand early 19th century English Georgian butler's desk or chest of drawers with secretaire.
Brass
19th Century Biedermeier Chest, Butlers Desk
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany, Biedermeier Chest, Butlers Desk
Mahogany
American Inlaid mahogany Chest On Chest With Butlers Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
An inlaid mahogany chest on chest with butlers desk and bonnet top.
Mahogany
Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A solid wood four drawer Biedermeier chest, the top most drawer pulling out to reveal a hinged writing surface and 13 drawers and compartments with ivory pulls and escutcheons.
Metal
Sold
H 33 in W 47 in D 23.5 in
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Butler's Desk Wild Cherry Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French piece, called a Butler's desk, is a combination of desk and chest of drawers.
Cherry
18th Century English Chest on Chest with Butlers Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
This beautiful piece was made in England during the late 18th Century around year 1760-1770. Every part of this item is original including the handles and escutcheons. The top sectio...
Mahogany
Sold
H 50 in W 42 in D 19.25 in
Early 19th Century China Trade Camphor Two-Part Secrétarie Military Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
This early 19th century British Colonial China trade campaign chest with butler's desk is made with camphor wood.
Brass
Sold
H 44 in W 42 in D 20.5 in
John Wanamaker Georgina / Federal Style Flame Mahogany Butler Desk Commode
Located in Parkesburg, PA
Features fine high quality made construction, 3 Large Dovetailed Drawers, Drop front writing surface with 2 internal small drawers, Figured Mahogany Satinwood Inlay, Brass Hardware, ...
Mahogany
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
H 41.75 in W 39.25 in D 18 in
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Walnut Dresser Chest of Drawers
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 19th Century American Victorian Chest of drawers. Features four Knapp jointed drawers with brass drawer pulls and carved escutcheon plates. Dresser stiles are grooved matching...
Walnut
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Metal, Brass
The 'Matisse' Etagere
Located in London, GB
The 'Matisse' wrought iron side table. A hand made and patinated wrought iron etagere with whimsical Matisse style cut-out decoration. Made to order based on a 1960s original. Avail...
Wrought Iron
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Slant-Top Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A stunning, petite French slant-top desk or "bureau de pente" in the Louis XV style, turquoise and gold polychromed with Chinoiserie detailing, and red under-body. Desk opens to rev...
Bronze
$4,895 / set
H 25.75 in W 16.5 in D 11.5 in
Pair of French Cherrywood Nightstands or Bedside Tables with Marble Tops
Located in Austin, TX
A fine pair of French bedside end tables or night stands - each stand featuring a figured marble-top over a frieze with two inlaid drawers with original brass pulls. Superb origina...
Marble, Brass
$3,200
H 77.75 in W 44 in D 18.5 in
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Book Matched Walnut Bookcase
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This nineteenth century French Louis Philippe period bookcase or vitrine features a solid walnut facade with simple, handsome lines and two doors inset with glass. A panel at the cro...
Glass, Walnut
$16,500
H 102 in W 45 in D 23 in
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase.
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George III mahogany chest of drawers, circa 1780. With a rectangular single board top with thumb molded front and side borders, two top drawers and 3 graduated lower drawers all with...
Brass
19th century French Bookcase Mahogany
Located in MILL, NL
Insanely beautiful Louis Philippe bookcase / sideboard / display cabinet. Mahogany veneer over oak. Dates from the late 19th century. Condition is exceptionally good. All locks func...
Mahogany, Oak
$13,500Sale Price|50% Off
H 30.75 in W 43.38 in D 22 in
A Handsome Swedish Gustavian Alder Root Parquetry Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
A handsome Swedish Gustavian alder root parquetry 3-drawer chest; the well-figured top with canted corners above a body fitted with 3 graduated drawers with parquetry veneer; raised ...
Wood
Cherry Slant Front Desk
Located in East Aurora, NY
A nice early 19th century Cherry slant front desk probably Pennsylvania or Virginia. Nicely dovetailed case resting on tall bracket feet. The interior surface is fitted with severa...
Cherry
$3,800
H 36.5 in W 50.25 in D 21.63 in
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Style Commode with Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous 19th century French mahogany secretary style desk, designed as a classic Louis Philippe commode incorporating the work surface and storage compartments into the top “drawe...
Marble, Iron
$56,800
H 64.5 in W 41.75 in D 20.25 in
Antique German Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherrywood & Burlwood, 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Cherrywood and Burlwood, in good condition. The ...
Metal, Brass
Exquisite Half Circle Art Deco Commode With Bakelite Hardware C. 1930
Located in Bernville, PA
This magnificent rare example of a half circle chest of drawers is from the Redlion Furniture Company Circa American 1930’s. It has spectacular book match Burl veneer with incredible...
Brass
$2,450
H 33 in W 15 in D 13.5 in
French 19th Century Pine Faux Bamboo Side Table with Marble Top, Door and Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French faux bamboo pine side table from the 19th century with white marble top, single drawer as well as door and lower shelf. Immerse yourself in the quaint charm of this 19th-cen...
Marble
1990's National Mt. Airy Biedermeier Style Drum Tables
By National Mt. Airy
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a touch of elegance to your living space with this remarkable set of National Mt. Airy Biedermeier Style drum form nightstands/bedside tables that could also serve as dry bar cab...
Marble, Brass
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.
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