Bombay Chests
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century American Rococo Dressers
Metal
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Metal
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cowhide
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
Vintage 1960s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Unknown Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century American American Craftsman Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1970s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Composition
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Dressers
Early 20th Century Belgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1830s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Vintage 1960s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Parchment Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Parchment Paper
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1940s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Antique Early 1900s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century Dutch Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1890s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
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Bombay Chests For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Bombay Chests?
Finding the Right Commodes And Chests Of Drawers for You
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.
- What is a Bombay chest?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A Bombay chest is a piece of wooden furniture — a chest that bulges outward in the front and on the sides and then curves in at the base. This style of chest was popularized in 17th century French design.
- Why is it called a Bombay chest?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022The chest of drawers with a curvy frame is called a Bombay chest due to a misunderstanding about its name. Its proper name is "bombe" which is correctly pronounced similarly to the word "bomb." However, some people say "bom-BAY." This has led to confusion over how the name of the chest is actually spelled. Find a selection of bombe chests on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Bombay chests originated in France during the 18th century. Their name is actually a misspelling of the real name for the furniture, the bombe chest. Bombé is the French word for curved, and describes the wavy lines of the chests. You'll find a selection of Bombay chests on 1stDibs.
- What are Bombay chests used for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Bombay chests are also called bombe chests and are a chest of drawers that feature a distinctive curved or bowed shape. The term bombe is French for a curved piece of furniture, meaning bomb-shaped. This shape of chest originated in the early 1700s in an attempt to soften the lines of furniture and create a more comfortable and casual look. Shop a collection of Bombay chests from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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