Sold|$12,500 / set
Pair of 19th Century Late Gustavian Chests, with Porphyry Painted Tops
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful pair of 19th century Gustavian chests with porphyry painted tops. Nice hardware and they also have the keys. A very fine pair.
Wood
Sold|$15,950 / set
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Wood Chests with Diamonds Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer chests from the 19th century, with dentil molding and diamond motifs. Created in Sweden during the 19th century, each of t...
Wood
Pair, White Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1860-70
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of white, fitting their Swedish origin. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved diamond medallion, raised c...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$8,700 / set
Pair, Green Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of elegant Gustavian pine chests of three drawers painted in soft shades of green. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved floral medallion, dentil molding, raised on four...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$8,250 / set
Pair, Blue Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of elegant Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in light shades of blue, fitting their Swedish origin. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved medallion, dentil molding...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$8,700 / set
Pair, Gray Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in mottled shades of gray and plum. Canted fluted side posts with unique arrow carving at top, dentil molding, and flute...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$11,950 / set
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted and Carved Chests
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the 19th century, with marbleized tops, three drawers, canted side posts, carved dentil molding, protruding accent on the f...
Brass
Sold|$8,250 / set
Pair, Gustavian White Painted Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of white, fitting their Swedish origin. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved diamond medallion, raised c...
Brass
Sold|$12,800
Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers
Located in South Salem, NY
A late 19th or early 20th century pair of painted Gustavian style commodes. Each commode has three drawers with brass ring pulls.
Pine
Sold|$5,100 / set
Pair, White Gustavian Narrow Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, Gustavian style small chest of drawers with fluted canted sides and fluted tapered feet perfect to use as nightstands or small side tables. The three drawers each have a singl...
Wood, Paint
Sold|$8,250 / set
Pair of Gray Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers with Greek key motif carved in upper drawer. Canted fluted side posts, 3 drawers resting on four tapered feet. The newer, profess...
Brass
Sold|$8,225 / set
Pair, Gustavian White Painted Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of antique white with Greek key motif carved in upper top molding. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved ...
Brass
Sold|$6,643 / set
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Blue-Painted Pine Chests of Drawers
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of chests of drawers in the Gustavian style, executed in blue-painted pine. Architectural in design, each chest fitted with three fluted drawers with original brass mounts, su...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests with Dentil Molding and Marbleized Tops
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian painted wood chests from the early 19th century, with marbleized tops, drawers and dentil molding.
Wood
Sold|$12,800 / set
Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers
Located in South Salem, NY
An early 20th century pair of Swedish Gustavian style chests of drawers.
Pine
Sold|$13,200 / set
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pair of Antique Painted Pine Nightstands
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian pair of nightstands made of hand crafted Pinewood, in good condition. The detailed Scandinavian bedside tables are composed with two...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style White Painted Chest of Drawers Circa 1880
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of gustavian style chests of drawers. Both commodes features a molded edge top with scalloped carved details above 3 drawers with brass pulls.
Bentwood, Paint
Pair, White painted Gustavian Nightstands Side Tables, Sweden circa 1880-90
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, small Swedish country Gustavian white painted nightstands or side tables standing on tapered legs. Applied floral carving accents the front along with dentil molding and diamon...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted 19th Century Carved Two-Drawer Chests
Located in Atlanta, GA
With their clean lines and lovely carved décor, this pair of Swedish Gustavian style two-drawer commodes from the 19th century will make for a wonderful addition to any bedroom or li...
Brass
Pair of Antique Grey Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1860
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking pair of Gustavian chest of drawers is a special find. Please examine the close up photos to appreciate the exceptional finish and carved details. Scandinavian antiq...
Pair, 19th Century White Painted Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of white, fitting their Swedish origin. Canted fluted side posts with upper applied carving, dentil molding, all raised o...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Chests with Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer chests from the 19th century, with elongated diamond motifs, dentil molding and fluted accents. Born in Sweden during the ...
Wood
Pair, 19th Century Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers or Nightstands
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian style chest of drawers painted in shades of blue, fitting their Swedish origin. Three drawers, upper drawer decorated with painted Greek key motif. Can...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Chests with Marbleized Tops
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the 19th century with marbleized tops, carved dentil moldings and two dovetail drawers each. Delight in the elegance of the...
Wood
18th Century Light-Blue Swedish Gustavian Pair of Chests, Oakwood Cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique pair of Swedish Gustavian chests with two drawers each, made of hand carved oakwood, supported by four straight tapered feet, in good condition. The light-blue, Scandinavi...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Chests with Waterleaf Motif
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer chests from the 19th century, with carved waterleaf motifs, rosettes and faux-marble tops. Born in Sweden during the 19th ...
Wood
Swedish Late Gustavian Pair of Antique Chests with Marbleized Tops, 19th Century
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare neoclassical pair of Swedish chests from the late Gustavian period with hand-painted marbleized tops trimmed with beaded detail and dentil molding. Each chest has four drawers...
Brass
Pair Mid-20th C. Carved & Painted Two-Drawer Chests with Gustavian Influences
Located in Atlanta, GA
A mid-20th century pair of carved and painted wood chests from US furniture maker Hekman. These vintage chests have been designed with Gustavian influences; each featuring rectangula...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Chests with Marbleized Tops
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted two-drawer chests from the 19th century, with marbleized tops and fluted motifs. Created in Sweden during the 19th century, each of this pai...
Wood
Pair, Gustavian Gray Painted Small Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-1880
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of gray, fitting their Swedish origin. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved medallion, dentil molding, r...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$10,000 / set
Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers
Located in South Salem, NY
A pair of Gustavian style chests of drawers. A deep gray paint complements the decorative faux marble top. The canted corners are typically of the Gustavian style. Dentil molding, br...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Chests with Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer chests from the 19th century, with diamond motifs and dentil molding. Created in Sweden during the 19th century, each of t...
Wood
Sold|$10,000 / set
Pair of Gustavian Style Chests of Drawers
Located in South Salem, NY
Circa 20th century pair of Gustavian style chest of drawers in a Swedish antique white color. The canted corners with carved rosette medallions are typical of the Gustavian style. Pl...
Wood, Pine
19th Century Pair of Swedish Painted Bedside Chests in the Gustavian Style
Located in Wichita, KS
An elegant neoclasical pair of Swedish painted commodes in the Gustavian Style.
Brass
Pair of Swedish 1890s Gustavian Style Painted Bedside Chests with Reeded Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood bedside chests from the late 19th century, with dentil molding and reeded motifs. Born in Sweden at the end of the 19th century, each o...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Two-Drawer Chests with Soft Pink Color
Located in Atlanta, GA
Each of this pair of Swedish Gustavian commodes features a rectangular top with faux-marble inset, sitting above two drawers adorned with cartouches flanking the escutcheons.
Wood
An Assembled Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests
Located in New York, NY
An assembled pair Swedish Gustavian chests of drawers made during the first part of 19th Century. Front of drawers are reeded and channeled sides, standing on tapered and channeled leg.
Wood
Gustavian Style Swedish Off White Painted Three-Drawer Breakfront Chests, a Pair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style breakfront chests from the 20th century with off white / beige painted finish, three drawers, tapered feet and brass hardware. This exquisite pair o...
Wood
Pair, Small White Painted Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of small Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of white, fitting their Swedish origin. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved diamond medallion, dentil moldin...
Pine, Paint
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1880s Painted and Carved Three-Drawer Chests
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the late 19th century, with thee graduating drawers, fluting and diamond motifs. Created in Sweden during the last quarter ...
Wood
Pair, Green Painted Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative pine Gustavian chest of three drawers with traditional dentil molding; upper drawer decorated with lightly painted Greek key motif. Restored, later professional...
Pine, Paint
20th Century Dark-Grey Swedish Gustavian Pair of Antique Pinewood Nightstands
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique pair of small hand carved Swedish Gustavian chests of drawers made of Pinewood with a dark grey painted finish, Fleur de Lys decor and square tapered legs, in good conditi...
Metal, Brass
Pair, Blue Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers Nightstands, Sweden circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of three drawers with Greek key motif carved in upper top molding. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved diamond medallion, decorative ...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1880s Painted and Carved Three-Drawer Chests
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted chests from the late 19th century, with dentil molding and carved foliage. Created in Sweden during the last quarter of the 19th century, ea...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1880s Three-Drawer Chests with Carved Tassels
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer chests from the late 19th century, with carved tassels and dentil molding. Created in Sweden during the last quarter of th...
Wood
Pair of Swedish 1890s Gustavian style Painted Chests with Greek Key Friezes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the late 19th century with three drawers, Greek Key frieze, carved rosettes and nicely distressed finish. Created in Sweden...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted and Carved Three Drawer Chests
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the late 19th century, with three drawers and dentil molding. Created in Sweden during the last decade of the 19th century,...
Wood
Swedish 1890s Gustavian Style Gray Painted Chests with Reeded Drawers, a Pair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of swedish Gustavian style chests from circa 1890 with rich light gray painted finish, carved dentil molding, two reeded drawers and tapered legs. Embrace the understated eleg...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Chests with Greek Key Friezes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from circa 1890 with three drawers, carved Greek Key frieze and diamond motif. Created in Sweden circa 1890, this exquisite pair...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1850s Painted Wood Chests with Carved Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests circa 1850 with carved frieze, three drawers, fluted and canted side posts and tapered feet. Experience the timeless beauty of t...
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Style 1870s Gray Painted and Carved Three Drawer Chests, Pair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style three-drawer chests from circa 1870 with lightly marbleized tops, gray painted finish and carved reeded motifs. Elevate your interior with this stun...
Wood
19th Century Light-White Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Pair of Asymmetrical Chests
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Swedish Gustavian pair of dimensional chests with four drawers made of light grey painted pinewood with metal ring pulls. The hand carved chests are in good condition, det...
Metal
Sold|$8,250 / set
Pair of Gustavian White Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-70
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative pine Gustavian chest of drawers with traditional carved dentil moldings, canted fluted side posts with upper carved flourish, raised on four tapered fluted feet....
Brass
Pair, Blue Painted Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian style pine chest of drawers painted in shades of blue, fitting their Swedish origin. Three functioning drawers, upper molding decorated with carved Gre...
Brass
Pair, Black Painted Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of Gustavian pine chest of drawers with fluted side posts and upper dentil molding, all raised on decorative feet. Note the addition of a unique semi-circle panel added to the...
Brass
Pair of Gustavian Style White Painted Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1880
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of gustavian style pine chests of drawers. Both commodes features a molded edge top with canted corners, carved dental molding frieze above 3 long breakfront drawers flanked by ...
Wood, Paint
Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Chests with Carved Diamond Motifs, a Pair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chests from the 19th century with three drawers each, carved reeded diamond motifs, canted side posts and tapered feet. This stunning p...
Brass
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.