Il Pezzo Nightstand

Founded in Tuscany by Cosimo Terzani and Barbara Bertocci in 2010, Italian furniture and lighting firm Il Pezzo Mancante creates handmade chandeliers, case pieces, sconces and other works that are renowned all over the globe for their timeless elegance. The brand’s founders bring passion and intelligence to the world of design and to Tuscany’s artisan culture.

With works that see an alluring integration of solid wood, brass castings, hand-blown crystal and marble, Il Pezzo Mancante’s Terzani and Bertocci connect intimately with natural and luxe manmade materials, creating visually pleasing and functional works of art. The founders’ respect for wood as a living material, their painstaking quest for marble from the finest Carrara quarries and their working with natural materials to shape their designs’ final forms are fundamental to Il Pezzo Mancante. This hands-on approach is among the most rewarding parts of the production process. 

The firm’s designs for lighting include the famed Il Pezzo 3 collection’s chandeliers, wall lights, sconces and floor lamps, while Il Pezzo Mancante mixes traditional techniques with computer-aided precision technology to transform raw, live materials into spectacular dining room tables, console tables, dressers and credenzas. 

The name of the company translates to “the missing piece” — a reference to the founders’ journey to the next plateau in design as well as to the distinctive way each piece is identified. A brass cylinder engraved with a given piece’s serial number is concealed within every fixture or piece of furniture to ensure that each Il Pezzo Mancante piece is authentic and one of a kind.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Il Pezzo Mancante lighting, tables, case pieces and other furniture.

Whether burnished or lacquered, antique, new and vintage brass furniture can elevate a room.

From traditional spaces that use brass as an accent — by way of brass dining chairs or brass pendant lights — to contemporary rooms that embrace bold brass decor, there are many ways to incorporate the golden-hued metal.

“I find mixed metals to be a very updated approach, as opposed to the old days, when it was all shiny brass of dulled-out silver tones,” says interior designer Drew McGukin. “I especially love working with brass and blackened steel for added warmth and tonality. To me, aged brass is complementary across many design styles and can trend contemporary or traditional when pushed either way.”

He proves his point in a San Francisco entryway, where a Lindsey Adelman light fixture hangs above a limited-edition table and stools by Kelly Wearstler — also an enthusiast of juxtapositions — all providing bronze accents. The walls were hand-painted by artist Caroline Lizarraga and the ombré stair runner is by DMc.

West Coast designer Catherine Kwong chose a sleek brass and lacquered-parchment credenza by Scala Luxury to fit this San Francisco apartment. “The design of this sideboard is reminiscent of work by French modernist Jean Prouvé. The brass font imbues the space with warmth and the round ‘portholes’ provide an arresting geometric element.”

Find antique, new and vintage brass tables, case pieces and other furnishings now on 1stDibs.

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.