Antiques defined: Chest of drawers (bureau or dresser)
Chests of drawers were pieces of furniture designed to keep clothing. They are also known (especially in North America) as dressers or bureaus (bureaux).
They represent the evolution of chests that were not practical when travelling and stacked, since the lid could not be opened easily and access was limited. Drawers were then invented and chests of drawers (literally) started to become popular, even for homes. A transitional piece was a chest (coffer) with a single drawer at the bottom, and still a hinged lid.
They typically have multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above each other. Some of the drawers could be different in size (height, width or even, although more rarely, depth).
Many, English antique chests of drawers in particular, have a double top drawer, basically 2 drawers instead of just one wide one. Locks became soon increasingly common, for privacy reasons rather than a real antitheft device.
Access to the drawers‘ inside can be accessed by pulling them out at the front side. Chests of drawers were usually positioned with the back side against a wall since access to the back is not necessary. The lateral sides could also be placed against a wall or in a corner, however in modern design, this would be usually discouraged and baseboards would interfere with moulding on the furniture. It’s also suggested to leave a little space between the piece of furniture and the walls or other furniture, a few inches or more depending on the size and contents of the room. Some well made chests of drawers had an incorporated spacer, usually in the form of an extension of the top, to keep the back side away from the wall, to allow air circulation and avoid humidity accumulation behind the furniture and mould.
They were made to accomodate clothes in the bedroom, but since some were extremely stylish, well designed and rich in materials and/or ornaments, today they can be found in any room of the house to store anything that can fit in the drawers, or even traditionally designed business places, offices and stores, to hold documents and else.
As far as height of the chests of drawers, they could be either waist-high, or shoulder high, with very few exceptions.
Both would have a flat top, and some of the waist height ones would have a dressing mirror to the back of the top, often an adjustable one, to allow to dress in front of the clothing container and check the appearance at the same time.
Lampstands, personal and decorative items were often on the chest of drawers‘ top.