Bombe Chests
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Siena Marble
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
20th Century Italian Other Furniture
Glass, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Cabinets
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
2010s Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 20th Century British Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Vintage 1930s American Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Antique 1890s Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1990s Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
2010s Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood, Tulipwood
Antique Late 18th Century Swiss Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century European Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of ...
Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 20th Century Dutch Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1780s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1940s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1770s Dutch Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Mahogany
Antique Early 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of...
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple, Kingwood, Satinwood
Early 20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
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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.
- 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.
- 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 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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