The Deliciously Curvy Bombe Chest
A bombe chest makes an elegant addition to any room with its sweeping curves and opulent design features. The craftsmanship on these chests are also usually first class ensuring that you get a durable and robust piece of furniture that looks much more delicate than it actually is.
There are many styles of chests available in the marketplace – both antique and modern – that will give you a good deal of storage space in a unit that looks attractive. One of the most fascinating and unusual styles are chests known as bombe chests. These chests originated during the French Regency period and feature rounded bodies instead of the more accepted straight lines that most of us are used to.
These types of chests vary in size with smaller versions used as stylish end tables and the larger pieces as linen presses. The classic style of these pieces brings an old world charm to the room, particularly a room that has already been furnished with other antique pieces.
Apart from the rounded edges of the bombe chest the majority of them are also embellished with other detail work such as carved inlays, etched patterns or hand-painted designs. There is no doubt that the primary purpose of the bombe chest is to appeal to the eye as a highly decorative accent piece. When you shop around in your quest to buy one of them you will notice that there is a distinct emphasis on the accent side of things.
Bombe chests are available in all kinds of different woods from mahogany to teak, walnut or maple. The chest is given a lacquer finish and is polished to a high gloss so that it glows.
A great deal of craftsmanship goes into the construction of a quality bombe chest and you should check that the one you are considering buying is of solid construction. Traditionally the bombe is made with dovetail joints for added strength which is another aspect you should check out.
The focus of this article has been largely on the fact that the bombe chest is a decorative piece of furniture which is a little unfair and doesn’t give enough emphasis to the fact that they are also highly functional pieces of furniture. Certainly motivation enough to take a look at the possibility of buying an antique bombe chest for the bedroom or dining room.
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