Circa 1870 Louis XVI Style Bleached Walnut Drapery Swag Commode from Italy

Louis XV commodes, such as this gorgeous, bleached example from the 1920s, are known for their smooth lines and exquisite marquetry patterns. Notice the exaggerated curves of the sid...

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...

Italian Louis XVI Walnut Commode with three breakfront long drawers, each with parquetry inlaid banding of burl and satinwood, a wonderful hand-carved fr...

A fine late 18th century Louis XVI period Provençal commode, expertly handcrafted from walnut and burled walnut by skilled artisans in Arles, a historic city on the Rhône River in so...