What is a chevet table?

A chevet is simply a French term for a bedside cabinet or nightstand. These small pieces provide enclosed storage next to the bed for personal items. They usually combine a small drawer with a cupboard space below, keeping the sleeping area tidy and uncluttered.

Are these tables usually sold in pairs?

Many of these bedside cabinets appear as matched pairs, designed to flank a large bed symmetrically. Single examples also surface regularly for smaller rooms. Pairs often command higher interest because matching antique bedroom furniture becomes harder to assemble separately.

Why do many tables have marble tops?

Marble surfaces provided a practical, waterproof shelf for resting water jugs, candlesticks or chamber pots during the night. This stone top protects the wooden structure underneath from spills. Cabinet makers selected polished marble to add a touch of elegance and durability to everyday bedroom furniture.

How do I date these bedside cabinets?

Dating relies on examining the timber, construction methods, handles and stylistic clues such as Louis XV or Louis XVI revival details. Most surviving examples date from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. French provincial pieces often retain regional characteristics that link them to specific periods of local cabinet making.