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Pair of Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Breakfront Commodes
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Breakfront Commodes

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Breakfront Commodes

Located in Kastrup, DK

Elegant pair of Gustavian-style breakfront commodes from Sweden, circa 1840–1860. Each is painted

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Pair of Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes
Pair of Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes

Pair of Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Swedish Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes, A Pair Classic Pair Swedish Style

Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Superb Pair Cottage Chic Paint Decorated Soft White Swedish Gustavian Commodes
Superb Pair Cottage Chic Paint Decorated Soft White Swedish Gustavian Commodes

Superb Pair Cottage Chic Paint Decorated Soft White Swedish Gustavian Commodes

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This superb pair of Swedish Gustavian style commodes embodies the timeless elegance and rustic

Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Pair Commode Grey White Bedroom
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Pair Commode Grey White Bedroom

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Pair Commode Grey White Bedroom

Located in Lewes, England

Circa 1850 antique Swedish Gustavian Grey White painted chest of drawers commode in Gustavian style

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Pair 19th c. Swedish Gustavian Painted Bedside Commodes with Reeded Drawers
Pair 19th c. Swedish Gustavian Painted Bedside Commodes with Reeded Drawers

Pair 19th c. Swedish Gustavian Painted Bedside Commodes with Reeded Drawers

Located in Wichita, KS

A pair of Swedish Gustavian style commodes in original paint. These chests have beautiful reeded

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Pair Swedish Gustavian Breakfront Commodes in Original Gray Paint, 19th c.
Pair Swedish Gustavian Breakfront Commodes in Original Gray Paint, 19th c.

Pair Swedish Gustavian Breakfront Commodes in Original Gray Paint, 19th c.

Located in Wichita, KS

A beautiful pair of Swedish Gustavian breakfront chests from the 19th century, framed by dentil

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Pair Commode Grey White C.1860 Carved
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Pair Commode Grey White C.1860 Carved

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Pair Commode Grey White C.1860 Carved

Located in Lewes, England

Circa 1850 antique Swedish Gustavian Grey White painted chest of drawers commode in gustavian style

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

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

Pair of Gustavian Grey Painted Dressers
Pair of Gustavian Grey Painted Dressers

Pair of Gustavian Grey Painted Dressers

Located in Westwood, NJ

Pair of Gustavian Grey Painted Dressers, The Swedish Neo Classic style Gustavian commode with a

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Gustavian Commodes and Chests o...

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Decorated Commodes
Pair of Swedish Decorated Commodes

Pair of Swedish Decorated Commodes

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Pair of 19th Century Swedish 3 drawer commodes with Greek Key decoration. 1890

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Custom Made Commodes
Pair of Custom Made Commodes

Pair of Custom Made Commodes

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Pair of custom made Swedish style commodes Reference: 7718 Dimensions 40 inches (102 cms

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Serpentine Painted Chests of Drawers, Pair
Swedish Gustavian Serpentine Painted Chests of Drawers, Pair

Swedish Gustavian Serpentine Painted Chests of Drawers, Pair

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Elkhart, IN

A gorgeous pair of Gustavian or French Country style serpentine front dressers or chests of drawers

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

Pair of Painted Blue Gustavian Style Swedish Chests
Pair of Painted Blue Gustavian Style Swedish Chests

Pair of Painted Blue Gustavian Style Swedish Chests

Located in Atlanta, GA

Bring timeless Scandinavian charm into your home with this exquisite pair of Swedish chest of

Category

20th Century European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers

Located in Atlanta, GA

A classic pair of Gustavian-style chests of drawers crafted from solid pine and featuring a

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Pair of Gustavian Bedside Table wuth Marble Top
Pair of Gustavian Bedside Table wuth Marble Top

Pair of Gustavian Bedside Table wuth Marble Top

Located in Crowthorne, Surrey

Gustavian style bedside tables with white marble top. Made in second half of 20th century. Greay

Category

Vintage 1950s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th century painted Swedish commodes
Pair of 19th century painted Swedish commodes

Pair of 19th century painted Swedish commodes

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Pair of 19th century painted Swedish commodes circa 1880. Fine quality pair of Scandinavian chest

Category

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

Materials

Oak, Pine, Paint

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

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Chests with Greek Key Design

Located in Dallas, TX

This product is a pair of Swedish Gustavian style chests with a Greek key design. These chests are

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of D...

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers Bureau
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers Bureau

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers Bureau

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Painted Swedish Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest or Commode, a pair. This set of three drawer bureaus

Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Swedish pair of 19th century Gustavian influenced chest of drawers
Swedish pair of 19th century Gustavian influenced chest of drawers

Swedish pair of 19th century Gustavian influenced chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Fine pair of 19th century Swedish commodes circa 1880. Presented in a powder blue colour scheme

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

Swedish pair of 19th century black painted commodes
Swedish pair of 19th century black painted commodes

Swedish pair of 19th century black painted commodes

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Swedish pair of 19th century black painted commodes circa 1870. Slightly different from the usual

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Chests with Carved Stars
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Chests with Carved Stars

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Chests with Carved Stars

Located in Atlanta, GA

A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the late 19th century, with marbleized

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Antique Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers - a Pair
Antique Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers - a Pair

Antique Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers - a Pair

Located in South Salem, NY

An early 20th century pair of Swedish Gustavian style chests of drawers. Each commode has three

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

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

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

Pair of 20th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers
Pair of 20th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers

Pair of 20th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers

Located in Atlanta, GA

This elegant pair of Gustavian-style chests, crafted circa 100 years ago, embodies the refined

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

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

Pair of 19th century Swedish hand painted chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Pair of 19th century Swedish hand painted chest of drawers circa 1890. Pair of Swedish commodes

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Pair of painted 19th century Swedish chest of drawers
Pair of painted 19th century Swedish chest of drawers

Pair of painted 19th century Swedish chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Pair of painted 19th century Swedish chest of drawers circa 1890. Good quality pair of commodes

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th century pair of swedish hand painted chest of drawers
19th century pair of swedish hand painted chest of drawers

19th century pair of swedish hand painted chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Scandinavian pair of painted pine commodes, circa 1870. Stunning pair of Swedish chests, very much

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of 19th century painted Swedish chest of drawers
Pair of 19th century painted Swedish chest of drawers

Pair of 19th century painted Swedish chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Pair of 19th painted Swedish chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality pair of Swedish hand

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of 19th century chest of drawers with faux marble tops
Pair of 19th century chest of drawers with faux marble tops

Pair of 19th century chest of drawers with faux marble tops

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Pair of 19th century chest of drawers with faux marble tops circa 1870. Good quality pair of

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

Swedish pair of 19th century painted serpentine shaped chest of drawers
Swedish pair of 19th century painted serpentine shaped chest of drawers

Swedish pair of 19th century painted serpentine shaped chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Pair of 19th century Scandinavian commodes circa 1880. Good quality pair of chests presented in

Category

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

Materials

Oak, Pine, Paint

Swedish pair of white 19th century painted chest of drawers
Swedish pair of white 19th century painted chest of drawers

Swedish pair of white 19th century painted chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Swedish pair of white 19th century painted chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality pair of

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Antique 18th century Florentine Italian Bedside Commodes
Pair of Antique 18th century Florentine Italian Bedside Commodes

Pair of Antique 18th century Florentine Italian Bedside Commodes

Located in Leesburg, VA

) x 34 (w) x 17 (d) inches (each) This pair of Italian two-drawer bedside dressers from the 1700s

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Gustavian Dressers

Materials

Iron

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests

Located in Bethesda, MD

Pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted chests with outset corners, leaf tip trim, fluting, three

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chests
Pair of Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chests

Pair of Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chests

Located in Warminster, Wiltshire

A pair of three-drawer painted Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style featuring hand-painted faux

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

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

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests

Located in Encinitas, CA

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian painted chests in lovely blue paint with carved border around

Category

Antique 19th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers
Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers

Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers

Located in Sheffield, MA

Pair of Swedish chests of drawers, circa 1870, in the Gustavian Style. The drawers have a reeded

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests

Unavailable|$11,500 / set

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests

Located in Houston, TX

Pair of Swedish Gustavian chest circa 1810-1815. Scraped paint finish. Nice carving and details

Category

Antique 1810s Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style White Painted Chests
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style White Painted Chests

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style White Painted Chests

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style white distressed painted chests. Tops are white with a

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Louis XVI Style Chests 20th Century Gustavian Style Sweden
Pair of Louis XVI Style Chests 20th Century Gustavian Style Sweden

Pair of Louis XVI Style Chests 20th Century Gustavian Style Sweden

Located in Vienna, AT

Elegant pair of Louis XVI style chests of the beginning of the 20th century comprising three

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Rose Painted Chests, Late 19th Century
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Rose Painted Chests, Late 19th Century

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Rose Painted Chests, Late 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustation style rose distressed painted chests. Cut corners with fluted

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Gustavian Commodes
Pair of Gustavian Commodes

Pair of Gustavian Commodes

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

A handsome pair of Gustavian commodes with original hardware and locks, circa 1790. Later painted.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes
Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes

Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes

Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

Pair of 19th century Gustavian style commodes. In painted pine with brass adornments, these

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Red Gustavian Commodes
Pair of Red Gustavian Commodes

Pair of Red Gustavian Commodes

Located in South Salem, NY

Pair of red painted Gustavian style commodes with painted faux marble-top, circa the 1800s.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Gustavian Style Painted Commodes
Pair of Gustavian Style Painted Commodes

Pair of Gustavian Style Painted Commodes

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Pair of Gustavian Style painted commodes, late 20th century.

Category

Late 20th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Commodes
Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Commodes

Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Commodes

Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

Pair of 19th Century painted Gustavian style commodes. These commodes are made in our artisan

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Commodes
Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Commodes

Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Commodes

Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

Pair of 19th century painted Gustavian style commodes. These commode are made in our artisan

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes
Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes

Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Pair of 20th century Gustavian style painted commodes.

Category

20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Gustavian style Commodes
Pair of Gustavian style Commodes

Pair of Gustavian style Commodes

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

A pair of 20th Century painted Swedish commodes in Gustavian style with faux-marble tops.

Category

20th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Swedish Commodes
Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Swedish Commodes

Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Style Swedish Commodes

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

19th century pair of Gustavian style painted commodes with three panelled drawers. Reeded corners.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Bedside Commodes
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Bedside Commodes

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Bedside Commodes

Located in Wichita, KS

A pair of Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style with egg and dart detail around the top. Chalky

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Small 19th Century Gustavian Influenced Commodes
Pair of Small 19th Century Gustavian Influenced Commodes

Pair of Small 19th Century Gustavian Influenced Commodes

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Fine pair of Swedish blue commodes, circa 1870. Three-drawer chest of drawers with brass ring

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style Pair of Painted Bedside Commodes
Swedish Gustavian Style Pair of Painted Bedside Commodes

Swedish Gustavian Style Pair of Painted Bedside Commodes

Located in Wichita, KS

A pair of Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style. These chests feature a raised lozenge design on

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Pair of White Distressed Painted Gustavian Style Dressers Commodes
Pair of White Distressed Painted Gustavian Style Dressers Commodes

Pair of White Distressed Painted Gustavian Style Dressers Commodes

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This is a beautiful pair of custom made hand carved white painted commodes in the Swedish style

Category

Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

19th Century Pair of Gustavian Commode Dressers from Sweden
19th Century Pair of Gustavian Commode Dressers from Sweden

19th Century Pair of Gustavian Commode Dressers from Sweden

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Early19th Century, A beautiful Neo Classical pair of Swedish painted chests with two drawers each

Category

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

Materials

Pine

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Pair Gustavian Commodes For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of pair gustavian commodes is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, softwood and pine, all pair gustavian commodes available were constructed with great care. Pair gustavian commodes have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century.

How Much are Pair Gustavian Commodes?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $8,706, while they’re typically $2,650 on the low end and $48,000 highest priced.

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.