French Bombe Cabinet
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of...
Brass
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Granite
Vintage 1950s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Ormolu
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...
Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of ...
Kingwood
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Dressers
Marble
Antique 18th Century French Régence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Vanities
Fruitwood
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French Bombe Cabinet For Sale on 1stDibs
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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 is a French bombe?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A French bombe is a type of chest with curved details. Bombe chests bulge outward and on the sides with strong curves. These styles of chests were popular during the 17th century and continue to be coveted antique styles. Shop a selection of antique French bombe chests on 1stDibs.
- 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.
- What is a bombe dresser?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A bombe dresser is a type of case good furniture with a specific shape that became popular during the mid 18th century in France. Pieces feature two or more rows of drawers and show off curves along their sides, fronts and bases. Most bombe dressers are low so that you can hang a mirror over top. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of bombe dressers.
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