A Bombe Chest for Every Taste

The subtle differences between traditional, Asian, tropical and contemporary bombe chests add up greatly when finding the perfect bombe chest for your home decor. Our simple guide to bombe chests will make shopping for yours a snap.

Types of Bombe Chests
Bombe, or Bombay, chests, popularized in the early 1700s in France, are now an easy, elegant way to bring a touch of Old World charm into your dining room, living room, bedroom, office, or foyer. Once the hallmark of affluent French, bombe chests are characterized by their convex shape and ornate detail. While some boast rich, natural wood finishes, others are decidedly lighter; many are also dressed with complex, Chinese-inspired lacquer or paint work called chinoiserie. Such details are often the best way to determine exactly what type of bombe chest you're lucky enough to own.

Traditional Bombe Chests
Aside from their curved, or serpentine, construction, traditional bombe chests generally feature multiple drawers or, in the cases of some larger, half-moon shaped chests ideal for use against a wall, doors. Many traditional bombe chests have Queen Anne or ball style feet, ornamental hardware, and hand-carved or hand-painted floral patterns.

Asian Bombe Chests
Furniture from the French Regency period was distinguished by decorative embellishments drawn from both mythology and the Orient, and Asian bombe chests today hark back perfectly to the trends of that time. Marked by possibly the most striking chinoiserie, Asian bombe chests often depict Oriental landscapes or flowers in deep reds, blacks, and lush golds.

Tropical Bombe Chests
Bringing the Eastern theme of bombe chest adornment slightly west, tropical bombe chests highlight Middle Eastern and African environments and all they entail. Jungle scenes, exotic animals, and natural textures native to tropical area, the smooth yet segmented structure of bamboo or the thin, woven strips of handmade baskets, denote tropical bombe chests as a true celebration of the East's sense of adventure.

Contemporary Bombe Chests
Contemporary bombe chests offer the traditional bombe chest shape married with modern design aspects. Employing use of a variety of fresh materials, contemporary bombe chests present metal studs, distressed leather, marble, intricate inlay work, and the occasional funky accent motif, veneer, or finish to make them the perfect item with which to incorporate an antique look into a present-day setting.