18th Century French Crossbow Front Commode in Bleached Oak

In French, arbalete means “crossbow” and is typically used to describe the shape of furniture when the frontage has been carved in a sinuous manner. When the profile is viewed from above, it resembles the European Medieval crossbow. In the case of this walnut commode from Provence, the form is double arbalete. Two iron swag handles are affixed to each of the three stacked drawers by parted shell mounts. In between the pulls is a sinuous plate that surrounds a keyhole. Each drawer maintains the arbalete structure created by the thinly molded top. The apron is highly shaped, with many small arbaletes strung together. In the center is a gadrooned leaf and floret medallion surrounded by volute scrolls. The sides are straight but consist of recessed rectangular panels with asymmetrical tops...

The straight grain and rich color of the cherry tree made it a desirable wood for constructing luxury furniture during the 18th century. One beautiful example is our period Louis XIV commode, which was hand-carved in France in the early 1700’s. Augmenting the lovely reddish-brown color of the commode is an arbalete top that slightly hangs over the three stacked drawers below. Each drawer has three bronze foliate fittings set inside geometric panels with recessed molding (two pierced foliate swag pulls flanking a small keyplate surrounded by a parted leaf). There is a unique, shallow pullout drawer with two concentric circle pulls built into the molded frieze. This drawer was most likely used to store jewelry and other small valuables. Canted corners can be seen along the front of the shaped top, with elongated asymmetrical panels beneath that flank the tiers of drawers...

A beautiful and rare walnut commode from Angoulême, France, this shapely chest of drawers can be considered a “sauteuse”. A sauteuse commode was known to have longer legs and only two tiers of drawers...

Known as a commode sauteuse, this walnut chest of drawers was hand-carved in France in the 1700s during the reign of Louis XV, making it a period piece. Notice the long, curvy cabrio...

An en tombeau is a type of commode with three tiers of drawers and short legs. Our walnut wood chest of drawers was hand-carved in Provence, France d...

Walnut and burled walnut. In 1700s France, the commode was considered the finest piece of furniture in the chateau. It was also placed in the most important areas so it could be seen. This particular commode from Bourgogne or Vallee du Rhone area, is very rare in its shape and storage area. The shaped sides are small cabinets with one shaped shelf each. Each door opens to the back so that the contents are kept private from any guests. The 'galbee' front features three full drawers with brass hardware. The veneered wooden insets on the drawers and sides are all burled walnut wood. All this rests upon four outward shaped feet. There are three keys for opening the side cabinets and front drawers. This rare and large French commode...

18th C French serpentine front bleached oak commode. 1770. Reference: 7907 Dimensions 46 inches (117 cms) Wide 24.5 inches (62 cms) Deep 32 inches (81 cms) High

18th Century French Oak Commode was considered an essential part of many rooms of a proper home during the 1700s, not just used for clothing, but for linens and other items for daily...

Handsome 18th century carved and bleached oak commode. Nice carvings and patina on this piece. So pretty and great for a variety of decors.

An excellent example of a maple and walnut, 18th Century serpentine fronted commode with a later marble top. Having three long drawers with burr maple panels and walnut crossbanding ...

Lovely 18th century French bleached walnut large scale commode. The piece also has nice carvings and ample storage. Fabulous!

Large, three drawer 18th Century patinated French oak commode.