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 decorative motifs on the top rail, front and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers wi...
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy, 19th Century White A
Located in Lewes, England
antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed hand painted designs on the top rail and gilt detailing. Circa mid later 19th century in age It has four dr...
Birch
Sold
H 32.68 in W 31.5 in D 18.12 in
Pair Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
Mid 1800s pair of antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode in gustavian style with great detail and elegant legs. There is the usual amount of wood movement and ...
Pine
Sold
H 31.62 in W 39.57 in D 22.05 in
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 decorative motifs on the top rail, front and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers wi...
Pine
Sold
H 31.62 in W 39.57 in D 22.05 in
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 decorative motifs on the top rail, front and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers wi...
Pine
Sold
H 29.93 in W 38.19 in D 18.9 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1850 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
C mid 1800s antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the top rail and brass fittings. Lovely carved plinth and feet with colum...
Pine
Sold
H 38.98 in W 42.52 in D 22.45 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1880 Black Finish
Located in Lewes, England
C 1880 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 3 drawers commode in a rare black finish with detailed gustavian ribbing on the front and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers with ...
Pine
Sold
H 31.7 in W 34.65 in D 19.89 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1870 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
C 1870 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the top rail and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers with brass ring pulls and a...
Pine
Sold
H 36.82 in W 41.74 in D 22.84 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1840 Grey Blue
Located in Lewes, England
C 1840 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the top rail and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers with brass ring pulls and a...
Pine
Sold
H 34.65 in W 32.29 in D 17.72 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1860 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
C 1860 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the top rail, front and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers with brass ring pull...
Pine
Sold
H 46.46 in W 48.82 in D 26.38 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy, 19th Century White A
Located in Lewes, England
antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed hand painted designs on the top rail and gilt detailing. Circa mid later 19th century in age It has four dr...
Birch
Sold
H 46.46 in W 48.82 in D 26.38 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy, 19th Century White A
Located in Lewes, England
antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed hand painted designs on the top rail and gilt detailing. Circa mid later 19th century in age It has four dr...
Birch
Sold
H 46.46 in W 48.82 in D 26.38 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy, 19th Century White A
Located in Lewes, England
19th century antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with detailed hand painted designs on the top rail and gilt detailing. It has four drawers with brass ring pu...
Birch
Sold
H 34.26 in W 41.74 in D 20.48 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy Grey White, 1870
Located in Lewes, England
Circa 1870 beautiful antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode in Gustavian style with great circular detail and elegant legs. It is a very rare style and has 3 dr...
Pine
Sold
H 29.93 in W 20.48 in D 17.33 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1890 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
late 1800s antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode in more country style iwth liovely curved legs. There is the usual amount of wood movement and paint distress...
Pine
Sold
H 28.75 in W 33.47 in D 15.16 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1870 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
late 1800s circa 1870 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of drawers commode with 9 mini drawers and central cupboard with lovely detailing and a fantastic patina Side drawers:...
Pine
Sold
H 36.03 in W 40.56 in D 21.07 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1850 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
Please note - this item will be available to ship from early march 2022 C 1850 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 4 drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the to...
Pine
Sold
H 32.88 in W 37.8 in D 22.05 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1850 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
Please note - this item will be available to ship form early march 2022 C 1850 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 4 drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the to...
Pine
Sold
H 36.42 in W 40.95 in D 20.08 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy 1895 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
Please note - this item will for shipping from early march 2022 C 1895 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 3 drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the top rail, ...
Pine
Sold
H 29.34 in W 38.98 in D 14.38 in
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of 9 Drawers Commode Tallboy 1870 Grey White
Located in Lewes, England
Please note - this item will be available to ship form march 2022 C 1870 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 9 drawers commode with detailed decorative motifs on the top rail...
Pine
Gustavian Style Tallboy Chest of Drawers Antique 19th Century Painted Distressed
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Magnificent tall and elegant antique Gustavian Style tallboy chest of drawers, circa 1850s, the rectangular top over six graduated drawers all with original drawer pulls and wooden e...
Mahogany
Smoked Murano Glass Wall Sconces with Central Brass Plate
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Wall sconces made of a piece of curved and wavy Murano glass with a central brass plate. Two lights per sconce. Price per sconce
Brass
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
Napoli Reproduction Club Chair in Natural Cotton Canvas
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Over 2000 items in stock, scroll down and select view all to see our current ready to ship furniture and accessories! Price is per item, this is custom made to order. We do have 1 fl...
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
$1,658 / item
H 13.78 in Dm 9.45 in
Murano Round Green Glass and Brass Modern Wall Light and Sconces, 2020
Located in Roma, Lazio
Very special Murano glass wall light, stylish and elegant, their design truly unique in their kind. Beautiful coloring. The wall light is composed of a brass stem where a system for...
Brass
$7,400 / set
H 31.11 in W 21.26 in D 21.26 in
S33 Marcel Breuer Brown Leather & Chrome Set of Six Chairs
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
The "B34" chair, designed by Marcel Breuer, is a significant piece of modernist furniture. Marcel Breuer, a Hungarian-born architect and designer, was associated with the Bauhaus sch...
Chrome
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Console Tables
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Console Tables, circa 1880–1900 Pair of Swedish console tables in classic Gustavian style. The tables feature black-painted tops with a profiled edg...
Pine
$13,787
H 34.65 in W 71.66 in D 39.38 in
STUNNING ViNTAGE GEORGE SMITH MADE FOR LIBERTY'S LONDON KILIM THREE SEAT SOFA
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original George Smith three seat sofa with the period Kilim upholstery and feather filled cush...
Upholstery, Beech
$3,909 / set
H 29.25 in W 28.5 in D 27 in
A Stunning Pair of Small Leather Club Armchairs in the Art Deco Style
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning pair of club armchairs in the Art Deco style of neat proportions, fabulous quality and upholstered in gorgeously rich elegant brown leather with decorative brass studding ...
Leather, Wood
$4,000
H 50.01 in W 61.42 in D 29.93 in
Japanese Antique Large Black Tansu 1860s-1900s / Cabinet Sideboard Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old large Tansu made in Japan. This furniture was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The material used is cedar wood. The iron metal fittings in the center add an...
Iron
Custom Made Dining Banquette Bench Upholstered or Slip Covered COM
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Custom made to order the Bloom Banquette can be done in any of our linens, performance fabrics, or COM. Can be made to any length, depth, and height. Leg finishes are also available ...
Linen, Foam, Wood
$3,990 / item
H 33 in W 89 in D 39 in
Rudin Belgian Linen Sofa with Down Wrapped Seat Cushion in Cafe Noir Linen
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Bloom Home Inc Rudin Sofa in Cafe Noir Stone Washed Linen A heavy 18 oz weighted linen, in a rich warm brown tone. Our linen is stone washed to give a soft hand and relaxed look. Th...
Linen, Wood, Down
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 92.5 in W 92.5 in D 26 in
18th Century French Provincial Pine Farmhouse Dresser
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic 18th century country French provincial two-part farmhouse dresser with a plate rack and crafted from 1 inch thick pine planks. The plate rack has three display shelves above f...
Iron
$12,950
H 81.25 in W 46.75 in D 21.25 in
Late 18th-Century Scandinavian Two-Part Secretary, Circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
This rare Scandinavian two-part secretary dates to the late 18th century and exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Northern European furniture from the Gustavian era. The upper se...
Glass, Wood
$17,178
H 30.71 in W 74.81 in D 34.65 in
Fritz Hansen Model 1669 Three-Seat Sofa. Wool Bouclé Fabric. Circa 1940.
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Paris, FR
Rare and elegant three-seat sofa model 1669 manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark, in the 1940s. Original piece from the 1940s newly re-upholstered in the traditional way by the b...
Leather, Sheepskin, Fabric, Wool, Upholstery, Faux Fur
$5,595
H 23.23 in W 39.38 in D 13.39 in
19th Spanish Console Table with Two Carved Drawers and Original Hardware
Located in Miami, FL
This large Spanish 19th century features a beautiful one plank rectangular top over a two carved drawer featuring slightly different hardware, is adorned with geometrical motifs and ...
Iron
Gustavian Corner Sideboard
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Corner cabinet of 1830s. It can also be used by being attached to a wall. Even though it is simple, facial expressions have a wonderfully sophisticated atmosphere.
Wood
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.
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.