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Swedish, Gustavian Chest Drawers
Swedish, Gustavian Chest Drawers

Swedish, Gustavian Chest Drawers

Located in Staffordshire, GB

Circa 1820. Swedish Gustavian chest drawers. Sku 1379. Measures: W 105 x D 49 x H 82cm.

Category

Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in Kastrup, DK

Gustavian chest of drawers in mahogany with beautiful grain pattern. Original brass fittings, locks

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Fine 19th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Fine 19th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Fine 19th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in Allerum, SE

Fine 18th century Gustavian chest of drawers in alder root veneer in its original condition with

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Chest on Chest, circa 1810
Swedish Gustavian Chest on Chest, circa 1810

Swedish Gustavian Chest on Chest, circa 1810

Located in Huntington, NY

An unusual Swedish Gustavian chest on chest featuring a dentil frieze top border with triple fluted

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Exceptional 19th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Exceptional 19th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Exceptional 19th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in Allerum, SE

Exceptional early 19th century Gustavian chest of drawers veneered with amaranth, birch, jacaranda

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

1880s French Gustavian Chest of Drawers
1880s French Gustavian Chest of Drawers

1880s French Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in High Point, NC

1880s French Gustavian Chest of Drawers. This elegant 19th-century chest reflects the refined

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Antique Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Pinewood, Circa 1860
Antique Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Pinewood, Circa 1860

Antique Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Pinewood, Circa 1860

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An antique Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers with two doors and six drawers, made of hand crafted

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Swedish 19th century hand painted Gustavian chest of drawers
Swedish 19th century hand painted Gustavian chest of drawers

Swedish 19th century hand painted Gustavian chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

19th century hand painted Gustavian chest of drawers circa 1820. 3 drawer commode with shaped

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Paint

18th century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden 1780
18th century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden 1780

18th century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden 1780

Located in Leimen, DE

Gustavian chest of drawers, Sweden, 1780-1800. This elegant chest of drawers is made of yew tree

Category

Antique 1780s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790
Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790

Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790

Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790 A refined Gustavian chest of

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Gustavian Chest Of Drawers Grey Painted, Swedish Origin From 1840s
Gustavian Chest Of Drawers Grey Painted, Swedish Origin From 1840s

Gustavian Chest Of Drawers Grey Painted, Swedish Origin From 1840s

Located in Lejre, DK

Gustavian chest of drawers from the 1840s with three drawers, painted grey in a classic style. Top

Category

Antique 1840s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Chest
Swedish Gustavian Chest

Swedish Gustavian Chest

Located in Dallas, TX

Vintage Swedish Gustavian carved and painted chest. A Swedish Gustavian carved and painted chest is

Category

Vintage 1940s Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Mahogany & Oak, Italian Craftsmanship
Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Mahogany & Oak, Italian Craftsmanship

Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Mahogany & Oak, Italian Craftsmanship

Located in Seaford, GB

18th-Century Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers – c.1770 An exceptional 18th-century painted

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

Located in Boden, SE

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of drawers with untouched Original paint from Skelleftea

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Small Danish Gustavian Chest of Drawers in Original Coral Paint
Small Danish Gustavian Chest of Drawers in Original Coral Paint

Small Danish Gustavian Chest of Drawers in Original Coral Paint

Located in Kastrup, DK

Small Louis XVI / Gustavian chest of drawers in pine with its original coral-red paint and subtle

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

Located in Boden, SE

A very genuine 19th century Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers from Umea Vasterbotten, Northen

Category

Antique Early 19th Century European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Diamond-Patterned Marquetry
Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Diamond-Patterned Marquetry

Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Diamond-Patterned Marquetry

Located in Kastrup, DK

Gustavian chest of drawers of exceptional craftsmanship, originating from the Mälardalen region

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers from 19th Century
Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers from 19th Century

Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers from 19th Century

Located in Barcelona, ES

A late Gustavian solid oak chest of drawers from 19th century. Formation: Three drawers

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Antique Northern Swedish Classic Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Antique Northern Swedish Classic Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Antique Northern Swedish Classic Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in Kramfors, SE

Antique chest of drawers or commode from northern Sweden made in a classic straight gustavian shape

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest
Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in black. This classic Gustavian commode is a very

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

Pair of Blue Gustavian Chests of Drawers, Gustavian Style, Sweden
Pair of Blue Gustavian Chests of Drawers, Gustavian Style, Sweden

Pair of Blue Gustavian Chests of Drawers, Gustavian Style, Sweden

Located in Kastrup, DK

A refined and elegant pair of chests of drawers executed in the Gustavian style and painted in

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest
Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in Gustavian blue. This classic Gustavian style commode

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

Mid-19th Century Black Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden
Mid-19th Century Black Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden

Mid-19th Century Black Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Mid-19th Century chest of drawers painted in black. This classic Gustavian commode or dresser is a

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of D...

Materials

Brass

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests with Greek Key Design
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests with Greek Key Design

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests with Greek Key Design

Located in Dallas, TX

This product is a pair of Swedish Gustavian style chests of drawers with a Greek key design

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Antique Gustavian Chest of Drawers Chest on Chest Dated 1829
19th Century Antique Gustavian Chest of Drawers Chest on Chest Dated 1829

19th Century Antique Gustavian Chest of Drawers Chest on Chest Dated 1829

Located in Boden, SE

A magnificent beautiful big Chest of Drawers "Chest on Chest." Swedish early 19th century

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Painted Pine Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60
Painted Pine Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60

Painted Pine Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60

Located in Round Top, TX

Gustavian painted pine chest of three drawers with "Greek key" or meander design along top and pair

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Painted Chest
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Painted Chest

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Painted Chest

Located in New Orleans, LA

A charming small-scale Gustavian chest painted in soft, muted tones with clean lines and subtle

Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Oak Chest - Antique Scandinavian Marble Commode
Swedish Gustavian Oak Chest - Antique Scandinavian Marble Commode

Swedish Gustavian Oak Chest - Antique Scandinavian Marble Commode

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An antique Swedish Gustavian chest made of hand crafted painted Oakwood, in good condition. The

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Metal, Brass

Gustavian Hand-Painted Chest of Drawers, 19th Century Sweden
Gustavian Hand-Painted Chest of Drawers, 19th Century Sweden

Gustavian Hand-Painted Chest of Drawers, 19th Century Sweden

Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, 19th Century A beautifully proportioned Gustavian chest of

Category

Antique 1840s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Softwood

18th Century Gustavian Commode
18th Century Gustavian Commode

18th Century Gustavian Commode

Located in Ljungby, SE

High-quality Gustavian chest of drawers from the Mälardalen region of Sweden, dating from the late

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Antique Swedish Gustavian Pine Chests, Circa 1870-1890, Neoclassical
Antique Swedish Gustavian Pine Chests, Circa 1870-1890, Neoclassical

Antique Swedish Gustavian Pine Chests, Circa 1870-1890, Neoclassical

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A 19th Century, antique pair of light-grey Swedish Gustavian chests made of hand crafted painted

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Gustavian Style Unique 2 Drawer Chest
Gustavian Style Unique 2 Drawer Chest

Gustavian Style Unique 2 Drawer Chest

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a very unique 4 visual 2 drawer Gustavian Chest, its been restored and repainted with Milk

Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Gustavian Dressers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers  with original paint
19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers  with original paint

19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers with original paint

Located in Boden, SE

19th Century Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers from Umeå Västerbotten ,Northern Sweden . The chest

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy Black C 1850
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy Black C 1850

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy Black C 1850

Located in Lewes, England

C 1850 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 3 drawers commode with detailed gustavian ribbed

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Antique Danish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Three Drawers, Narrow
Antique Danish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Three Drawers, Narrow

Antique Danish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Three Drawers, Narrow

Located in Round Top, TX

Decorative pine Gustavian chest of drawers with traditional carved dentil molding, canted fluted

Category

20th Century Danish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Large Gray Chest of Four Drawers
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Large Gray Chest of Four Drawers

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Large Gray Chest of Four Drawers

Located in Round Top, TX

Stately Gustavian chest of four drawers with dentil molding carved along top and gentle fluted

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests of Drawers
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests of Drawers

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests of Drawers

Located in Atlanta, GA

This exceptional pair of 19th-century Swedish Gustavian chests embodies the elegance and restraint

Category

Antique 19th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Genuine Tall Red Painted Gustavian Country Chest of Drawers
Antique Swedish Genuine Tall Red Painted Gustavian Country Chest of Drawers

Antique Swedish Genuine Tall Red Painted Gustavian Country Chest of Drawers

Located in Kramfors, SE

Swedish country house chest of drawers in gustavian style. The chest of drawers is a Swedish

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Tall Narrow Blue Painted Louis XVI Chest of Drawers
Tall Narrow Blue Painted Louis XVI Chest of Drawers

Tall Narrow Blue Painted Louis XVI Chest of Drawers

Located in Kastrup, DK

Tall Louis XVI/Gustavian chest of drawers with 11 drawers. This chest is a custom-made piece

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chest with Marbleized Top
Swedish Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chest with Marbleized Top

Swedish Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chest with Marbleized Top

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style three-drawer chest with light gray painted finish, marbleized top and

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Late 18th C. Swedish Chest w/Traditional Swedish-Red Color &Faux-Marble Top
Late 18th C. Swedish Chest w/Traditional Swedish-Red Color &Faux-Marble Top

Late 18th C. Swedish Chest w/Traditional Swedish-Red Color &Faux-Marble Top

Located in Atlanta, GA

19th century. This period Gustavian chest from Sweden, designed in clean lines, features a hand-painted

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style
Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique Gustavian Style 5 drawer chest of drawers. its been restored and repainted with

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style
Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique 4 drawer Gustavian style Chest of Drawers / Show Cabinet. its been restored and

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th - 20th Century Swedish Mahogany Chest of Drawers - Antique Stone Cabinet
19th - 20th Century Swedish Mahogany Chest of Drawers - Antique Stone Cabinet

19th - 20th Century Swedish Mahogany Chest of Drawers - Antique Stone Cabinet

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A late 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian chest, commode with three drawers made of hand

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinets

Materials

Stone, Metal, Brass

Swedish Gustavian Four Drawer Chest
Swedish Gustavian Four Drawer Chest

Swedish Gustavian Four Drawer Chest

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a very Unique Swedish Gustavian Style 4 drawer chest of drawers. its been restored and

Category

Vintage 1910s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest
Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest

Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a Gustavian style 3 drawer chest, its been restored and repainted with Milk paints "Oyster

Category

Antique 1880s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest
Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest

Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique Gustavian Style 3 drawer Chest. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints

Category

Vintage 1910s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Mora Clock Chest
Swedish Gustavian Mora Clock Chest

Swedish Gustavian Mora Clock Chest

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a Swedish Gustavian Mora clock chest, its been restored and repainted with milk paints

Category

Antique 1820s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers

Located in Atlanta, GA

A refined Gustavian-style chest of drawers from Sweden, crafted in pine and painted in warm

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style Chest Of Drawers
Swedish Gustavian Style Chest Of Drawers

Swedish Gustavian Style Chest Of Drawers

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique Swedish Gustavian Style 3 drawer chest of drawers. its been restored and repainted

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Vintage Gustavian Painted 3 Drawer Chest
Vintage Gustavian Painted 3 Drawer Chest

Vintage Gustavian Painted 3 Drawer Chest

Located in Dallas, TX

The Vintage Gustavian Painted 3 Drawer Chest is a charming piece of furniture with a unique painted

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

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Gustavian Chest For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal gustavian chest for your home. Each gustavian chest for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, softwood and pine. If you’re shopping for a gustavian chest, we have 798 options in-stock, while there are 2 modern editions to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the gustavian chest you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A gustavian chest made by Neoclassical designers — as well as those associated with Rococo — is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one gustavian chest that is appealing in its simplicity, but André-Charles Boulle, Tara Shaw Maison and Carl Gustaf Foltjern produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Gustavian Chest?

Prices for a gustavian chest can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $499 and can go as high as $48,000, while the average can fetch as much as $5,202.

A Close Look at Gustavian Furniture

With clean lines and muted colors, antique Gustavian furniture is understated and elegant. It represents a more restrained version of the transition from Rococo to neoclassicism that was happening in France under Louis XVI. The style developed under Swedish King Gustav III, who reigned from 1771 until his assassination in 1792, and his son Gustav IV, who ruled until 1809. Although Gustavian furniture is mostly used to refer to pale painted cabinets, commodes, armchairs and other items, it involved a range of influences.

Gustavian-style furniture was inspired by discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the grandeur of European palaces like Versailles, with local softwoods such as pine and birch. There was also an emphasis on natural light; crystal chandeliers and large mirrors played a role in radiating the fleeting daylight of winter, giving it a distinctive aesthetic.

Where earlier furniture was curvy and florid, this new era was more architectural, with tapered and fluted legs and rectangular and oval shapes. Luminous gilt contrasted with the palette of soft blues on upholstery and painted surfaces. Leading furniture builders included Gottlieb Iwersson, Louis Masreliez and Erik Öhrmark. The latter, a French-born Swedish decorator, designed the Sulla chair, a seat that was demonstrative of technical skill and precise craftsmanship and drew on Greek klismos chairs. Masreliez’s Sulla chair was made by Öhrmark and featured decorative ornamentation produced by Jean-Baptiste Masreliez, Louis’s younger brother.

While the wealthy had furniture carved with neoclassical details like scallops and rosettes, more affordable options were adorned with faux finishes that mimicked marble and stenciled patterns. The simple elegance of Gustavian furniture would have a long impact on Swedish design, informing the 20th-century appreciation for function and form. In the 1950s, IKEA mass-produced copies of a Gustavian commode designed by cabinetmaker Georg Haupt, who created pieces for the Royal Palace, making the furniture a fixture of everyday Swedish life.

Find a collection of antique Gustavian seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Commodes-chests-of-drawers for You

Shopping for a commode or a chest of drawers?

Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote any case piece with a particularly intricate design. The commode dates to circa 1700 France, where it was used as an alternative to a taller cabinet piece so as to not obscure paneled, mirrored or tapestried walls. Coffers, or chests, which were large wooden boxes with hinged lids and sometimes stood on ball feet, preceded chests of drawers, a fashionable cabinet furnishing that garnered acclaim for its obvious storage potential and versatility. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot. 

As time passed, French and British furniture makers led the way in the production of chests of drawers, and features like the integration of bronze and ornamental pulls became commonplace. Antique French commodes in the Louis XV style were sometimes crafted in mahogany or walnut, while an Italian marble top added a sophisticated decorative flourish. This specific type of case piece grew in popularity in the years that followed.

So, what makes a chest of drawers different from a common dresser? Dressers are short, and chests of drawers are overall taller pieces of furniture that typically do not have room on the top for a mirror as most dressers do. Tallboys and highboys are variations of the dresser form. Some chests of drawers have one column of four to six long drawers or three long drawers in their bottom section that are topped by a cluster of small side-by-side drawers on the top. To further complicate things, we sometimes refer to particularly short chests of drawers as nightstands. 

Even though chests of drawers are commonly thought of as bedroom furniture to store clothing, these are adaptable pieces. A chest of drawers can house important documents — think of your walnut Art Deco commode as an upgrade to your filing cabinet. Nestle your chest near your home’s front door to store coats and other outerwear, while the top can be a place to drop your handbag. Add some flair to your kitchen, where this lovable case piece can hold pots, pans and even cookbooks.

When shopping for the right chest of drawers for your home, there are a few key things to consider: What will you be storing in it? How big a chest will you need?

Speaking of size, don’t dream too big. If your space is on the smaller side, a more streamlined vintage mid-century modern chest of drawers, perhaps one designed by Paul McCobb or T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, may best suit your needs.

At 1stDibs, we make it easy to add style and storage to your home. Browse our collection of antique and vintage commodes and chests of drawers today.