What is a parquetry inlaid commode?

A parquetry inlaid commode is a decorative chest of drawers featuring geometric wood veneers arranged in patterns like cubes or bricks. These low storage cabinets were built in various continental European centres, particularly France and Italy, across the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Where should I place a commode?

These cabinets work well as primary storage in a bedroom or as a surface for lamps and decorative objects in a hallway or drawing room. The marble-topped variants also function effectively as sideboards in dining spaces.

How do I spot an eighteenth-century piece?

Early pieces display hand-cut dovetailing in the drawer construction and timber shrinkage appropriate to age beneath the veneer. Stylistic cues such as strict Neoclassical lines or fluid Rococo curves also help indicate the period of manufacture.

Are marble tops original?

Many commodes retain their heavy original marble slabs, which were cut to match the precise serpentine or breakfront shape of the wooden carcase. Replacement marble is sometimes fitted later if the original stone suffered a fracture.