What is a Commode? Is it a Chest of Drawers or a Toilet?
What is a Commode? Is it a Chest of Drawers or a Toilet? “I thought a commode was a toilet, but then I saw this picture of a beautiful bombay chest, and the caption called it a commode. Is it a chest?”Answer: The word commode can refer to a either a chest of drawers, or a chest that enclosed toilets. While it originally started out as a chest of drawers or a cabinet for storing personal items, in early 18th century France, later on a commode was also used to house chamber pots. Hence the use of commode to denote toilets. The word commode derives from the French word for “convenient” or “suitable”. Commodes were introduced in the 18th century in France and were both decorative and useful. A French commode is a low cabinet or chest of drawers, often with elaborate decoration and usually standing on cabriole legs or short feet. Earlier commodes had a bombé or convex shape with a flat back that went against the wall.
