Weiman Bombay

Weiman left an indelible mark on the history of American furniture manufacturing as a leader in mid-century modern design. Its high-quality work included fabric upholstered and on-trend sofas, chaise longues and lounge chairs. Weiman also created many beautiful solid wood pieces, like side tables and end tables full of charm and character.

Weiman came onto the American furniture scene in 1935 in Rockford, Illinois, a city known for its furniture manufacturing industry. Weiman expanded in 1941 with the construction of a large factory. According to Rockford Streamlined, it was “one of the very finest factories in all the world of furniture.” While it industrialized its manufacturing processes, Weiman continued to focus on heirloom quality pieces with excellent craftsmanship.

Over the years, Weiman developed a more modern style. The company’s upholstered furniture was often inspired by innovative developments in design. It acquired a reputation for bold and colorful pieces that customers could personalize to their tastes.

In 1979, Weiman became a subsidiary of leading furniture manufacturer Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. to continued success over the subsequent decades. In 2003, Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. announced that the Weiman division would acquire assets of upholstery manufacturer Preview Furniture, Inc., creating Weiman Preview. The new company offered a stronger lineup of contemporary furniture and worked with designers like Vladimir Kagan, M.F. Harty and Stanley Jay Friedman.

Contemporary decor company Interlude Home Inc. purchased Weiman Preview in 2006 to expand its accent furniture collection. The purchase transformed Interlude Home Inc. into a custom furniture brand now known for upscale designs.

On 1stDibs, find classic Weiman seating, tables, case pieces and more.

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.