Bombe Chests
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Dressers
Pine
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Shell
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Credenzas
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Unknown Other Night Stands
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Louis XV Side Tables
Marble, Breccia Marble, Brass
20th Century Unknown Expressionist Paintings
Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Dressers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chippendale Dressers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Dressers
Cherry
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Credenzas
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Models and Miniatures
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Night Stands
Iron
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Rococo Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Vitrines
Bronze
Late 20th Century Unknown Louis XV Night Stands
Cherry
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Night Stands
Walnut
Antique 18th Century British Cabinets
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Swiss Cabinets
Marble
Early 20th Century Country Night Stands
Tapestry, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Baroque Vitrines
Brass
Antique 1790s Italian Rococo Night Stands
Marble, Iron
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Belgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1940s European Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1830s Belgian Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1840s Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Chinese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 20th Century French Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silk, Glass, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century European Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Danish Cabinets
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Vintage 1980s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swedish Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch End Tables
Early 20th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Antique 19th Century French Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Kingwood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Bombe Chests For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Bombe Chests?
Finding the Right Commodes-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 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.
- 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 is a bombe chest?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019
A bombe chest is a set of drawers that bulges outward in the front and on the sides. The style, whose name comes from French word bombé, meaning “curved,” originated in 17th-century France.
- What is a bombe commode?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022A bombe commode is a type of two- or three-drawer chest once used to hold personal items like clothing, documents and jewelry. Its name comes from the French word "bombe" and references the curvy shape of both the chest's body and legs. You'll find a variety of bombe commodes on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 23, 2019
A bombe chest cost depends on its size, age, designer, location, condition and other factors. If the piece is in relatively good condition, it may cost anywhere between $300 and $3,000.
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