European Nightstands

For many, peaceful slumber comes easy when nestled in a bed with a book on your nightstand; however, in previous centuries the nightstand doubled as a cubicle for the resident’s chamber pot.

Thankfully, advances in plumbing allowed everyone to breathe easy while nightstands remained pivotal to nighttime rituals. Early French nightstands had built-in handles that allowed them to easily be transported and stored out of sight during the daytime. Eventually, European nightstands settled permanently into the space adjacent to the bed. These pieces of furniture come in a variety of styles, from English Queen Anne and French Louis XV to American Empire and Spanish Revival.

While nighttime necessities have changed from candlesticks to lamps and from books to kindles, the basic function of the nightstand as a home for things you may need during the night remains the same.

Quick Facts

• In October 2015, a pair of Louis XV carved nightstands with marble tops sold on eBay for $1,450
• At a 2011 Skinner auction in Boston, a George III mahogany nightstand inlaid with satinwood dating to late 18th century England sold for $889
• In 2014, a pair of mid-20th century teak Dyrlund Nightstands from Denmark sold at a Skinner auction for just $215