Towards the close of this period, a new _fauteuil_ makes its appearance. Its back is arched and slightly curved, and its feet end in a carved leaf. This is one of the first indications of the coming style of Louis XV. This is also felt in the curving chair-back that appears on Plate XIII. (No. 4) and on Plate XVIII. (No. 5). The legs and feet of the chairs are usually cut in the tapering form with four faces, and ornamented with marquetry, paint or gilding. Many of them have straining-rails that intersect in the form of an X, as is shown on Plate XIII.; and these usually carry at their point of intersection a little ornament such as a steeple, or a rose. Some of them have a carved front rail, and others have a wooden moulding below the seat instead of a fringe. The arms nearly always end in the scrolled acanthus, and some of them are padded. Plate XIII. gives several examples. A piece of furniture that dates from this reign was the Commode, a kind of desk or _bureau_, containing drawers for the preservation of linen, or clothing or small articles. Its top slab is usually of marble. The _Dictionnaire de Trévoux_ says, in 1771, the name was given to it on account of its great commodity. It seems to have been always a very handsome article. Although Littré speaks of it, in 1760, as a “newly invented piece of furniture,” the _Inventaire du Garde Meuble of Versailles_, in 1700, shows us that the Duc d’Orléans had a “_bureau de commode_” of walnut. This was 3 feet, 5 inches long and 25 inches wide. It contained two drawers with iron rings. Among the _Meubles de la Couronne_, Versailles (1720–1730), there were two “_commodes de marqueterie_,” of many-coloured flowers on a background of ebony. Upon the top, the ornament was a vase of flowers standing on the end of a column with festoons of flowers, birds, butterflies and two grotesque masques. Six _fleurs-de-lis_ ornamented the corners and the centre of the sides. In front were three large drawers, and the locks and rings were of gilt bronze. These commodes were 4 feet, 2 inches long, 2 feet, 7 inches wide and 2 feet, 8 inches high. Another “commode” is described as veneered with _palissandre_ (violet-wood) with a marble slab. This was _bombé_ in front and contained three drawers, the locks, handles and other ornaments of gilt bronze. Its dimensions were 31 inches high; 3 feet, 8 inches long; and 24 inches wide. [Illustration: PLATE XV] Bérain and Lepautre designed many commodes of excessive richness, which even the magnificent examples of Boulle, one of which is given on Plate XIV., did not surpass. The Duchess of Orleans owned a walnut commode 3 feet, 7 inches long, and 2 feet wide, containing three drawers with iron rings. The Duke had a _bureau en commode_, 3 feet, 5 inches long, and 25 inches wide, containing two large drawers with iron rings.