George III Tray Top Commode
A george iii tray top commode offers refined utility for the bedroom, combining a shaped gallery top with enclosed storage.
George III Tray Top Commode
A george iii tray top commode is a compact item of bedroom furniture designed during the Georgian and 18th Century periods to conceal a chamber pot while serving as a bedside table or nightstand.
The pieces on this page appear predominantly in mahogany, with occasional variations featuring satinwood, brass hardware, and leather accents.
Forms span standard bedside cabinets, tambour front units, and step commodes built during the 18th Century and Georgian eras.
Materials and Construction
Cabinetmakers constructed these pieces primarily from solid mahogany and flame mahogany veneer, often incorporating boxwood inlay for decorative contrast.
Tambour doors utilised closely fitted strips of wood glued to canvas backing to slide smoothly within tracks, concealing the interior compartment.
Several survivors hide folding wooden steps inside, offering a discreet route to high shelves for the vertically challenged.
Judging Quality
The distinction between standard examples and superior pieces rests on the choice of timber and the precision of the joinery in elements like the gallery top and tambour mechanism.
Secondary woods used inside drawers, the presence of original brass hardware, and complex profiles such as serpentine or concave fronts elevate the status of an individual commode.
Gillows
The George III Tray Top Commode Glossary
- Tray top
- A raised gallery surrounding the upper surface of the table to prevent items from rolling off. This feature often incorporates shaped cut-out handles at the sides.
- Tambour
- A flexible shutter made of narrow vertical slats glued to a canvas backing. It slides horizontally in tracks to close a cupboard opening.
- Commode
- A piece of furniture containing storage cupboards or drawers. In 18th Century contexts, this frequently designated a bedside cabinet housing a chamber pot.
- Satinwood
- A durable, yellowish timber native to Ceylon and India. Cabinetmakers used veneers of this wood for contrasting inlay and banding on mahogany furniture.
- Step commode
- A specialised metamorphic form incorporating folding steps concealed within the cabinet. This design served libraries and bedrooms alike during the Georgian period.
George III Tray Top Commode: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tray top commode used for?
These cabinets served primarily as bedside furniture in Georgian bedrooms. The enclosed lower section originally housed a chamber pot, while the flat surface held lighting and personal items.
The raised gallery edge prevented objects from sliding off the top when movement occurred in the room. Over time, many of these pieces lost their interior fittings to serve simply as bedside tables.
How do I identify a tambour door?
A tambour door consists of narrow vertical strips of mahogany attached to a flexible canvas backing. This construction allows the door to curve around corners and slide smoothly along concealed tracks.
Examining the interior reveals the vertical slats moving within a grooved wooden track set into the cabinet frame.
Are these commodes made of solid mahogany?
Cabinetmakers utilised both solid timber and flame mahogany veneer over secondary woods like pine or oak. Visible exterior surfaces often displayed carefully matched veneer panels to create striking grain patterns.
Structural elements such as legs and frame corners typically employed solid mahogany for strength.
How do I place one in a modern bedroom?
A george iii tray top commode functions effectively as a bedside table or a small side cabinet in a living space. The enclosed cupboard hides modern electronics or personal items while keeping surfaces clear.
The compact proportions allow the cabinet to fit beside low modern bed frames without dominating the room layout.