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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A pair of antique Swedish painted chests, late 19th century. White painted top with step down carving and unique arched crown moulding below top, cut corners with fluted carving an...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style painted chests, late 19th century Simple painted tops above a lovely crisp carved arched border, cut off corners with carved panels, Classic t...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chests with Greek Key
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chests with Greek Key

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chests with Greek Key

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style distressed white painted chests with Greek key gilded border painted on the top drawers of both chests. Cut off fluted corners and legs with g...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Large pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style painted chests diamond carving, late 19th century. Three-drawer chests with faux finish gray marble tops, drawers have diamond carved ra...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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 commodes in the Gustavian style, Sweden, circa 1880, with block fronts, chamfered corners, and marbleized tops.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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

Scandinavian Swedish Gustavian Painted Pair of Chests

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A matching pair of Swedish chests,identical, Gustavian style, light grayish blue paint.
Both chests have beautiful dental molding and a flower spray carving and columns on eac...

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style white distressed painted chests. Tops are white with a carved beaded decorative border, the corners are cut with arched recessed detail, Cla...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair Antique Swedish Gustavian style blue distressed painted chests. Tops are faux painted in greyish marble and below is a nicely caved dental moulding. Cut corners with fluted deta...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian, Painted Chests Gold Leaf, Late 19th Century
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian, Painted Chests Gold Leaf, Late 19th Century

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian, Painted Chests Gold Leaf, Late 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style decorative painted chests adorned with carved egg and dart gold leaf border around the top, the three drawer fronts are hand painted in reddis...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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 Gustavian style rose distressed painted chests. The tops are faux painted in greyish marble and extends down to the carved crown border, cut fluted carved cor...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian style Blue painted chests, each with faux painted marble tops in gray colors that extend down to the carved egg and dart border, three drawers with...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Demi Lune Consoles Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina
Pair of Swedish Demi Lune Consoles Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina

Pair of Swedish Demi Lune Consoles Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina

Located in Vienna, AT

A Pair of very elegant Swedish Demi Lune consoles from the 20th century. The consoles are painted lovely Swedish white and grey distressed finish.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Small Gustavian Style 3-Drawer Chests
Pair of Small Gustavian Style 3-Drawer Chests

Pair of Small Gustavian Style 3-Drawer Chests

Located in Water Mill, NY

Attractive and well made small Gustavian style 3-drawer chests which can nicely work on either side of a bed

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers

19th C. Swedish Chests, Pair
19th C. Swedish Chests, Pair

19th C. Swedish Chests, Pair

Located in Houston, TX

This pair of Gustavian styled 19th Century Chests are sure to please, with their Swedish charm. They have a soft gray appearance, 3 drawers each, lovely brass pulls and details. Perf...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Antique Swedish Drawers, 19th Century
Pair of Antique Swedish Drawers, 19th Century

Pair of Antique Swedish Drawers, 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Unusual pair of Swedish antique dressers, both chests have beautiful mouldings with a flower spray carving on each corner and fluted squared legs in the Gustavian style of the 19th ...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Antique Swedish Painted Chests
Pair of Antique Swedish Painted Chests

Pair of Antique Swedish Painted Chests

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A pair of Antique Swedish painted three drawers chests, in grayish white with square fluting at either side. Tapered fluted legs. 19th Century

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Swedish Night Stands
Pair of Swedish Night Stands

Pair of Swedish Night Stands

Located in Sheffield, MA

Pair of small chests of drawers, Sweden circa 1900, raised on tapering legs. Bar and bead molding around the front and sides, and decorative brass hardware.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers
19th Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers

19th Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers 19th Century Both chests have beautiful dental moulding and a flower spray carving on each corner and fluted legs.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

19th Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers
19th Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers

19th Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

19h Century Pair of Antique Swedish Chests of Drawers with dental mouldings around the upper part and carved corners and fluted legs.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Antique Chests, 19th Century
Pair of Swedish Antique Chests, 19th Century

Pair of Swedish Antique Chests, 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Unusual pair of Swedish antique chests 19th century. Top border with beautiful Greek key design and beaded detail above, and below the Greek key, cut-off fluted corners in front en...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Pair of Period Swedish Country Chests of Drawers
Pair of Period Swedish Country Chests of Drawers

Pair of Period Swedish Country Chests of Drawers

Located in Sheffield, MA

Pair of simple three drawer chests, Sweden circa 1800, in blue-gray paint and having fluted tapering feet. Original brass hardware. For close-up photos, http://www.cupboardsandro...

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests o...

Materials

Brass

Pair of Swedish Antique Chests of Drawers, 19th Century
Pair of Swedish Antique Chests of Drawers, 19th Century

Pair of Swedish Antique Chests of Drawers, 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Large pair of Swedish antique chests of drawers 19th Century . These chests have canted edges and feature a regal lion head rosette at the top of each front edge. They are carved aro...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Nice Pair off 19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers
Nice Pair off 19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers

Nice Pair off 19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers

Located in Wommelgem, BE

A beautiful pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted chests from the 19th century with carved guilloché detail around the apron; canted corner posts; and square, fluted legs very deta...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Pair of Swedish Chests of Drawers with Fluted Drawers
Pair of Swedish Chests of Drawers with Fluted Drawers

Pair of Swedish Chests of Drawers with Fluted Drawers

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of Swedish chests of drawers, circa 1910, with Classic form and three drawers with fluted detail. Simple brass ring pulls.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Pair of Three-Drawer Chests
Pair of Three-Drawer Chests

Pair of Three-Drawer Chests

Located in Sheffield, MA

Pair of commodes in the Gustavian Style, Sweden, circa 1870.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Painted Gustavian Commodes
Pair of Painted Gustavian Commodes

Pair of Painted Gustavian Commodes

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of grey painted Gustavian commodes with three drawers, gilt detailing, and a black painted top with brass hardware, circa 19th century.  

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Painted Gustavian Commodes
Pair of Painted Gustavian Commodes

Pair of Painted Gustavian Commodes

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of grey painted Gustavian commodes with three drawers, gilt detailing, and a black painted top with brass hardware, circa 19th century.  

Category

Antique Early 19th Century 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 Great Barrington, MA

Pair of two drawer chests, Sweden circa 1870, in the Gustavian style. Shaped tops painted as red marble have dentil molding below. Each drawer front has a raised lozenge and brass pu...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Grey Painted Commode
Gustavian Grey Painted Commode

Gustavian Grey Painted Commode

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of Gustavian three-drawer commodes with brass hardware, dental trim, and tapered feet, circa 19th century.  

Category

Late 20th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Commodes in the Gustavian Style
Pair of Swedish Commodes in the Gustavian Style

Pair of Swedish Commodes in the Gustavian Style

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of Swedish commodes, circa 1880, having horizontal reeding on their drawers and aprons. Their shaped tops have dental detail and marbleized surfaces. Canted corner posts extend ...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Large Gustavian Style Marble-Top Demilune Commodes
Pair of Large Gustavian Style Marble-Top Demilune Commodes

Pair of Large Gustavian Style Marble-Top Demilune Commodes

Located in Bridgeport, CT

A beautiful pair of gray and tan painted Gustavian Style demilune commodes, with marble tops, having two drawers and two doors each.

Category

Early 20th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chests
Pair of Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chests

Pair of Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chests

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of Swedish chests of drawers in the Gustavian Style, circa 1860. Three raised panel drawers under a faux marble top. Canted corner blocks with reeding and unusual applied stars ...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Gustavian Style Two-Drawer Chests
Pair of Gustavian Style Two-Drawer Chests

Pair of Gustavian Style Two-Drawer Chests

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of Swedish commodes, circa 1860 with faux marble tops. Dentil molding runs around the front and sides above the canted corners with reeded corner posts and the two deep drawers....

Category

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

Materials

Pine

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

Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of black three-drawer chests, Sweden circa 1880, in the Gustavian style. Shaped tops with lamb’s tongue molding, canted and reeded corner posts, and tapering, reeded feet. Brass...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

Pair of Late Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of Gustavian style commodes with three graduated drawers, Sweden, circa 1890.

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, circa 1860
Pair of Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, circa 1860

Pair of Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, circa 1860

Located in Madrid, ES

A pair of Gustavian Style chest of drawers in antique white color with light grey top imitating marble. They keep the original locks and hardware,  circa 1860.

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian painted chests, late 19th century. A simple carved beaded border around top of chest, cut corners with arched inset carved detail ending with Clas...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

19th Century, Pair of Small Antique Swedish Commodes
19th Century, Pair of Small Antique Swedish Commodes

19th Century, Pair of Small Antique Swedish Commodes

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Unusual antique Swedish commodes with dentil moulding at the top edge and four drawers above fluted legs.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Paint, Wood

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Chests, Mid-19th Century
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Chests, Mid-19th Century

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Chests, Mid-19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian blue painted chest faux marble top mid-19th century. The tops are faux painted in grayish marble and extends down to the carved crown border, cut ...

Category

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

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian large painted chests, fronts of the drawers have reeded carved details, cut corners with fluted carving ending to Classic fluted tapered legs, Swed...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair Antique Swedish Gustavian Style very decorative painted chests with black Greek Key motif on the top drawer and black linear panels on the lower drawers and sides, the backgroun...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Large Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Chests Diamond Carving Mid-19th Century
Large Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Chests Diamond Carving Mid-19th Century

Large Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Chests Diamond Carving Mid-19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Large Pair of antique Swedish Gustavian chests diamond carving mid-19th century. Three drawer chests with lambs tongue border around the top, drawers have diamond carved raised pane...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Chests of Drawers Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina
Pair of Swedish Chests of Drawers Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina

Pair of Swedish Chests of Drawers Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina

Located in Vienna, AT

A pair of very nice and decorative Swedish chests of drawers from the 20th century. Chests are painted lovely Swedish white distressed finish.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Swedish Demi Lune Chests Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina 19h Century
Pair of Swedish Demi Lune Chests Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina 19h Century

Pair of Swedish Demi Lune Chests Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina 19h Century

Located in Vienna, AT

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Demi Lune chests from the 19th century in a mineral grey finish, which have three curved doors. The bright wood of the cabinets creates a nice contrast to t...

Category

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

Pair of Swedish Blue Painted Commodes Decorated with Ornaments Late 19th Century
Pair of Swedish Blue Painted Commodes Decorated with Ornaments Late 19th Century

Pair of Swedish Blue Painted Commodes Decorated with Ornaments Late 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair Antique Swedish Gustavian Style very decorative painted chests. Blue distressed paint finish with darker blue diamond motifs on the drawers and sides of chests. Tops are painted...

Category

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

Materials

Metal

Pair of French Antique Chests of Drawers Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina
Pair of French Antique Chests of Drawers Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina

Pair of French Antique Chests of Drawers Louis XVI Style Gustavian Patina

Located in Vienna, AT

An excellent example of a pair of French chests of drawers in the style of Louis XVI from the beginning of the 20th century with a marvellous Gustavian patina in a white finish.

Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Block Front Chests
Pair of Swedish Block Front Chests

Pair of Swedish Block Front Chests

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Pair of commodes in the late Gustavian style, Sweden, circa 1840.

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Antique Nightstands 19th Century
Pair of Swedish Antique Nightstands 19th Century

Pair of Swedish Antique Nightstands 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A pair of Swedish antique nightstands, with curved dental molding detail around top edge, small round floral carving on cut-off fluted corners, with classic tapering fluted legs, d...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Pair of Swedish Antique Blue Painted Chests 19th Century
Pair of Swedish Antique Blue Painted Chests 19th Century

Pair of Swedish Antique Blue Painted Chests 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of Swedish antique painted chests in medium blue color, with faux marble-tops in lighter grey-blue above carved border crown, cut-off corners with carved floral rosette endin...

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Painted Pair of Nightstands, Early 20th Century
Antique Swedish Painted Pair of Nightstands, Early 20th Century

Antique Swedish Painted Pair of Nightstands, Early 20th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Pair of antique Swedish bedside chests painted distressed Swedish White finish, two drawers, top drawer has carved swag and tassel details, the corners are carved with ribbon and f...

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

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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.