Bombe Chests
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
20th Century Unknown French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Italian Neoclassical Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Decorative Boxes
Wood
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pewter
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone
20th Century Belgian Other Jewelry Boxes
Brass, Metal
Antique Early 1900s Italian Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1950s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese American Classical Commodes and...
Wood
1990s Asian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Linen, Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gesso, Wood, Paint
Vintage 1930s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century European Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Vintage 1970s French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Limestone
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Early 20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Night Stands
Walnut
1990s English Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
Late 20th Century French Provincial Night Stands
Walnut
Late 20th Century Italian Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Burl
Antique Early 19th Century French Decorative Art
Faience
1990s French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Rococo Vitrines
Bronze
Antique Early 18th Century Dutch Furniture
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests...
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Dutch Rococo Cabinets
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century European Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Swedish Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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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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