Kingwood Bedside Commode
These kingwood bedside commode pieces combine figured veneers with marble tops and ormolu mounts, bringing French decorative styles into domestic spaces.
Kingwood Bedside Commode
A kingwood bedside commode is a small French-influenced cabinet or chest designed for the bedroom or drawing room, frequently taking the form of a serpentine or bombe shape. The selection here leans heavily towards pairs of bedside cabinets, side tables, and petite commodes dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Makers often drew upon Louis XV and Louis XVI styles, incorporating curved fronts, cabriole legs, and elaborate marquetry or parquetry patterns. Most examples encountered on this page utilise durable marble tops, ranging from white to breche d'alep varieties, paired with polished wooden bodies.
The forms function practically as bedside storage or accent tables while serving a decorative purpose through their figured grain and metal mounts. Buyers encounter various designations such as bedside tables, side cabinets, and chests of drawers that share these compact dimensions and stylistic traits.
How they were made
Cabinetmakers constructed these pieces using a supportive carcase of walnut or other secondary timbers, applied with thin veneers of kingwood and rosewood arranged in geometric parquetry or floral marquetry patterns. This technique allowed craftsmen to display contrasting grain figures across curved bombe surfaces without destabilising the structure.
Gilt bronze and ormolu mounts were cast and chased to accentuate the corners, handles, and aprons of the cabinets, providing structural protection and visual contrast to the dark wood. Heavy marble slabs were cut, shaped, and polished to fit precisely onto the recessed upper surfaces of the commodes.
Kingwood Bedside Commode Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for kingwood bedside commode among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some nineteenth-century commodes include hidden compartments originally designed for secret correspondence.
What varies in quality
The distinction between tiers rests upon the precision of the cabinetwork and the crispness of the gilt bronze mounts. Finer pieces demonstrate seamless veneer alignment across complex curved surfaces and thick, heavily figured kingwood reserves.
The weight and selection of the marble top also dictate grade, with superior slabs showing complex natural veining and precise edge profiling. Additionally, the depth of hand-chasing on the ormolu mounts separates standard production items from masterworks.
E. Kahn·Sormani
The Kingwood Bedside Commode Glossary
- Kingwood
- A dense, heavily figured Brazilian timber displaying rich violet-brown tones with darker striping, utilised extensively for high-end French veneer work. It forms the primary visual surface on these cabinets.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze used for decorative mounts and furniture hardware. The metal is cast and then treated with a gold amalgam to achieve a durable golden finish.
- Bombe
- A swollen, outward-curving contour in furniture design, characteristic of French Rococo revival pieces. This shape requires advanced woodworking skill to veneer accurately.
- Marquetry
- The art of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns and pictures. Craftsmen cut contrasting woods together to ensure tight joints.
- Breche d'alep
- A specific type of multi-coloured quarried marble featuring brecciated patterns of brown, cream, and grey. It frequently tops French commodes and side tables.
Kingwood Bedside Commode: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a kingwood bedside commode used for?
These compact cabinets serve as bedside storage surfaces for small items, combining enclosed drawers or cupboards with a sturdy marble top suited for lamps and decorative objects.
Their decorative presence also allows them to function as standalone side tables in hallways or drawing rooms.
Are these commodes original antiques?
The listings span from the eighteenth century through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, capturing various revival periods. Each piece reflects the manufacturing methods and stylistic preferences of its specific decade.
Materials such as genuine kingwood, hand-cut veneer, and heavy marble are consistent across these historical periods.
How should I care for marble and kingwood?
Keep the kingwood polished with appropriate wax and protect the surface from moisture and direct heat. Regular dusting preserves the lustre of the polished veneer and gilt mounts.
The marble top can be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap, avoiding acidic substances that might etch the polished stone.