Chest of drawers

In American English a dresser is a piece of furniture, usually waist high, that has drawers and normally room for a mirror.

A typical chest is approximately rectangular in overall shape and often has short legs at the bottom corners for placement on the floor.

The chest illustrated in this section would be described as a '5 over 2 chest-on-chest', the latter term deriving from the fact that at one time it would have been made as two separable pieces.

Waist-high chests often have a mirror placed vertically on top, which is often bought with the piece.

While a user is getting dressed or otherwise preparing their grooming, they can look at themself in the mirror to check their appearance.

Morse suggests that the name came from the similarities in the construction to "bureau desks", popular in the 18th century.

An early transitional phase was the installation of one drawer beneath this main compartment.