A signboard next to these carefully crafted and decorated wooden objects informs that they are a pair of commodes:
The name is taken from the French word for a chest of drawers. They were introduced during the reign of King Louis XIV (1638-1715) and the style was adopted in the mid-1700s when French fashions became popular in Britain.
The term usually describes cupboards with curved or ’serpentine’ fronts, supported by legs. In this case the shape is a very plain rectangular chest with all the emphasis being on its elegant decoration.
Commodes were used on the principle floor of a house, either in the main reception rooms or in bedrooms and dressing rooms.
Many commodes were not functional at all but simply a means of showing off the decorative skill of the maker and they sometimes formed part of a decorative scheme for a complete interior.
This pair was functional and designed for use in a bedroom to store clothes. One of the interiors is fitted with shelves and the other with sliding drawers. The top has a narrow shelf which could be slid out, traditionally for use as a flat surface for brushing clothes.
Since I love anything made of wood, I would like it for the wood alone! It’s so beautiful.
The wood is fabulous, I would have liked to run my hand across it
Well, that’s quite different from my understanding of the word “commode”!
Mine too. I was expecting something quite different within those wooden boxes. Something that fits with the paper you posted earlier today
What a beautiful chest.
Exquisite craftsmanship
Wow. That’s super interesting. I thought a commode was a toilet. That wood looks so smooth. Makes you wonder how they could create such beautiful things without modern tools. Great post.
I too thought a commode was a toilet!
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
Elegant work of art!
my grandfather had a small wooden one which always was fascinating for me .
thank you for adding the detail dear Charie!
It is interesting that your grandfather had one
oh this is completely new to me, CP. next time i will check the function first before deciding if i need to use the commode!
It was new to me as well. HaHa! Probably a good idea to check out the function before using a commode in future
Well, you learn something every day. I bought a friend a commode for his 40th birthday, but it was the other sort; he should be using it anytime soon…
That is an unusual birthday present. LOL