Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1890s Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century Danish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
19th Century Danish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1750s Swiss Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century Austrian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1890s Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gold Leaf
1760s German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1890s Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1780s Balkan Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1690s Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Ebony, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
17th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Chestnut
18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1720s Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
17th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
17th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Tortoise Shell, Ebony
1790s Dutch Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1760s Swiss Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Olive, Walnut
Early 18th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1760s Swiss Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Maple
1760s German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nutwood
Early 20th Century Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Walnut, Burl
1840s Danish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 18th Century Maltese Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Wood
Mid-18th Century Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1730s Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ebony, Walnut
Early 18th Century German Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood, Walnut