Bombe Chest Reproductions
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests...
Brass
Late 20th Century Asian Louis XV Dressers
Marble
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Antique Mid-18th Century Chinese Cabinets
Elm
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Dressers
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 1830s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1820s Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Vitrines
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1920s American Chinoiserie Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Cabinets
Bamboo, Mirror, Wood
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 20th Century British Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Late 20th Century British Louis XV Side Tables
Marble
Late 20th Century Asian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century American Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 2000s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Finding the Right commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Is it 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 a 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.
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 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.
- 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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