Dressing commode of mahogany, inlaid with satinwood and ebonized wood, of modified bombé form, the front serpentine, with three long drawers, above tall, splayed feet, the drawers with brass, bail handles. The top drawer is fitted with a slide covered in green baize (a brushing slide for clothes). Under this is a central adjustable mirror, flanked by lidded compartments and trays covering recesses.

Dressing commode of mahogany inlaid with dark and light woods (possibly holly and ebony). Its form is oblong, with an undulating serpentine drawer-front, projecting front corners and curved plain short front-corner legs. It has a plain top with a surround of inlaid chequer stringing. The top drawer is fitted with an interior slide covered with green baize and giving access to interior horizontal fittings consisting of a rectangular tilting and sliding mirror, flanked on either side by six square and rectangular lidded compartments and two trays covering recesses. Below are two progressively deeper unfitted drawers above symmetrically-shaped skirting. The drawers are cock-beaded on the edges and this is ebonized, as is the rounded moulding on the front edge of the legs. The drawers have shaped bail drawer handles of brass, with pierced backplates with rococo scrolls. The keyhole escutcheons are beaded,
The carcase is of oak, with a backboard of softwood in two vertical panels, the drawer linings in oak, althoug the backs of the drawers appear to be of another hardwood. Inside, the laterally set bases are finished with quarter-round mouldings to either side.

Given by Eric Browett in memory of Ada Mary Browett

Given to the V&A in 1937 by Eric M. Browett of George Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham (RF 37/3429). Given by Eric Browett in memory of his wife. Mr Browett gave more than twenty pieces of English furniture, mostly of the second half of the eighteenth century (W.46 to W.74-1937). Most of the pieces were shown together in Gallery 44 on first acquisition (neg. no. 77456).

For a discussion of the whole Browett collection see: Ralph Edwards, 'The Browett Gift of English Furniture at the Victoria and Albert Museum', Country Life, 9 October 1937, pp. 380-381.


This commode has been tentatively attributed to Ince and Mayhew.

The shape of this dressing commode is derived from the bombé commodes of the Rococo style of the mid-18th century, which survived in popularity for more than thirty years. This piece only has the swelling shape in the corner piece. The front is slightly serpenine but the sides are nearly straight. The maker managed an elegant revision of the more swelling shape of the mid-century. This commode is fitted with equipment for the dressing table and must have been intended for a bedroom or dressing-room.

W.55-1937