Sold|$8,700 / set
Pair, Black Painted Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-90
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of Gustavian pine chest of drawers with canted fluted side posts with upper carved diamond medallion and Greek key meander along top, all raised on four tapered fluted feet. T...
Brass
Sold|$3,050 / set
Pair, 19th Century Swedish White Nightstands Narrow Chest of Drawers
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, Gustavian style narrow pine chest of three drawers with tapered feet perfect to use as nightstands or small side tables. The three drawers each have a brass pull ring to open....
Brass
Sold|$8,250 / set
Pair of Black Pine Chest of Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, Gustavian pine chest of drawers with fluted canted sides and tapered feet, additional decorative Greek key or "meander" carving along the top. This lovely pair has been given n...
Brass
Sold|$8,368 / set
Pair of 19th Century Painted Swedish Chest of Drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality pair of chest of drawers, circa 1870. 3-drawer chests with chanelled detailing on the drawer fronts. Canted corners with applied star motif. On one chest of drawer...
Pine
Sold|$8,096 / set
Pair of 19th Century Painted Swedish Chest of Drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality pair of chest of drawers, circa 1870. 3-drawer chests with channelled detailing on the drawer fronts. Canted corners with applied star motif. On one chest of drawe...
Pine
Pair, Black Painted Pine Chest of Drawers or Nightstands, Sweden circa 1940-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of small Gustavian style pine chest of three drawers with clean tapered lines. The newer, professionally applied black painted finish is perfectly distressed to fit the age an...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$9,246 / set
Pair of 19th century painted Swedish chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century painted Swedish commodes circa 1870.
Pine, Paint
Sold|$8,250 / set
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gray Painted Chests of Drawers
Located in Round Top, TX
19th-century Swedish pair of pine chests of drawers with a newer professionally applied layered gray painted finish. The surface shows a mottled texture with faint white undertones, ...
Brass
Sold|$9,382 / set
Pair of 19th century carved Swedish painted chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Beautiful pair of Swedish 3 drawer commodes, very much in the Gustavian taste.
Pine, Paint
Sold|$7,552 / set
Pair of 19th Century Painted White Chest of Drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century painted white chest of drawers circa 1870. Elegant pair of commodes painted in a off white. Stepped top witch flow over the canted corners, which have applied...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$7,749 / set
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century small painted chest of drawers circa 1870. Fine quality pair of oak and pine commodes that could equally serve as a pair of bedside tables. Shaped tops below ...
Oak, Pine, Paint
Pair of Small White Chest of Drawers, Nightstands, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, Gustavian style small pine 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 tw...
Brass
Sold|$9,518 / set
Pair of 19th century painted pine Swedish chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century painted pine swedish commodes circa 1880.
Pine, Paint
Sold|$5,100 / set
Pair, 19th Century Large White Pine Chest of Six Drawers from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of large, 4' wide pine chests with six drawers each. Newer professionally applied and layered white painted finish, lightly distressed to fit age of this pair. Restored, strong...
Pine, Paint
Pair White Pine Chest of Three Drawers With Greek Key Motif Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of drawers painted in shades of white with Greek key motif carved in upper top molding. Canted fluted side posts with upper carved floral m...
Brass
Pair of Blue Painted Chest of Three Drawers With Griffins, Sweden circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
A pair of elegant Gustavian pine chests of three drawers painted in soft blue and contrasting black top with pair of griffins highlighting the upper drawer. Canted fluted side posts ...
Brass
Sold|$9,321 / set
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 Swedish painted commodes. Top surface with hand painted faux marble effect, canted corn...
Pine, Paint
Sold|$9,518 / set
Pair of 19th century hand painted pine Swedish chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century painted pine Swedish commodes circa 1880.
Pine, Paint
Sold|$9,457 / set
19th Century pair of hand painted Swedish chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century pair of hand painted Swedish chest of drawers circa 1880. Fine quality pair of chests that feature reeded drawer fronts. Rectangular tops with angled corners and mould...
Pine, Paint
Pair, Long Gray Painted Pine Chests of Two Drawers, Sweden circa 1800-40
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, long pine chest of two drawers with newer, professionally applied light dove gray painted and distressed finish which fits the age and grace of the pair. The unique size of 4.5...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Pair of 19th century Swedish painted faux marble top chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century swedish painted faux marble top chest of drawers circa 1870. Hand painted top surface to simulate marble, stepped edge with dentil frieze detailing. Canted cor...
Pine, Paint
Pair of Gustavian Style Commode in Antique White with Exotic Birds Design and Na
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
A pair of Gustavian style commode in antique white with exotic birds design and natural marble top.
Marble
Sold|$6,835
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Commodes
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Swedish chest of drawers in architectural Gustavian style, circa 1840–1860.
Brass
Sold|$6,646
Pair of Gustavian-Style Painted Commodes
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of commodes in Gustavian style, painted in a light grey-white shade with a beautiful patina.
Brass
Pair of Gustavian Style Black Painted Commodes, Sweden
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of Swedish commodes in Gustavian style, dating from circa 1840–1860.
Pine
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Bedside Chests Commodes
Located in Shippensburg, PA
PAIR OF SWEDISH PAINTED BEDSIDE CHESTS IN GUSTAVIAN TASTE Northern European, circa 20th century 30 5/8" H x 18 3/4" D x 32 1/8" W A fine pair of diminutive bedside commodes in the ...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Bedside Commodes
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style with carved foliate detail around the tops.
Wood, Paint
19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Bedside Commodes
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style with dentil molding around the top and lozenge detail on the corners.
Brass
Pair of Reeded Gustavian Style Commodes Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
White Painted Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, A Pair Pair of white hand painted Gustavian style chest of drawers constructed from solid wood with a hand-applied distressed finish ...
Brass
Pair of Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Commodes
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style graphite grey painted three-drawer commodes dating from the 19th century.
Brass
Pair of Reeded Gustavian Style Commodes Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
White Painted Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, A Pair Pair of white/greyish hand painted Gustavian style chest of drawers constructed from solid wood with a hand-applied distress...
Brass
Pair of Gustavian-Style Black Painted Commodes / Bedside Tables
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of chests of drawers in Gustavian style, made of black-painted pine. High-quality architectural design. Beneath the top surfaces are carved dentil mouldings. A pair of drawers w...
Brass
Sold|$14,800
Pair of Vintage Gustavian Neo-Classical Commodes
Located in Dallas, TX
Good pair of vintage Gustavian carved and parcel gilt neo-classical commodes.
Wood
19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Bedside Commodes
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish chest of drawers in the Gustavian style from the 19th century with dentil molding around the top and beautiful bell flower carvings on both the front and back corne...
Wood, Paint
Pair of Gustavian Style Black Painted Commodes Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of black hand painted textured Gustavian style chest of drawers.
Brass
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Black-Painted Commodes
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes from Sweden, circa 1860-70, crafted in black-painted pine.
Brass
Pair of Gustavian -Style painted Black commodes
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of commode Gustav style in black with beautiful patina
Brass
Matched Pair Custom-Made Gustavian Swedish Distressed Painted Commodes Dressers
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
These are simple and yet have sophisticated elements too. The commodes have gorgeous hand carved Greek key carving and a great white painted scheme. The each measure: 46 wide x 35 ta...
Beech
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 Painted Chest of Drawers.
Brass, Bronze
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Blue Painted Bedside Commodes Chests
Located in Shippensburg, PA
PAIR OF BLUE-PAINTED SWEDISH GUSTAVIAN-STYLE BEDSIDE COMMODES With paint-simulating-stone tops Northern European, circa 20th century 28" H x 17 1/8" D x 33" W Of very good quality...
Bronze
1870c Light Grey Pair of Gustavian Style Three Drawer Commodes, Italy
Located in New York, NY
1870c Swedish pair of Gustavian style commodes. Light grey in color.
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Style Pair of Painted Bedside Commodes with Marbleized Tops
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful pair of Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style with hand painted marbleized tops.
Paint
19th Century Swedish Late Gustavian Pair of Large Bedside Commodes
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare and monumental pair of Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers with reeded drawer fronts in a neutral, antique cream patina. Each chest has three drawers, brass hardware, and origi...
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Commodes, circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer commodes from the late 19th century, with canted side posts and tapered feet.
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1900s Painted Commodes with Diamond Patterns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian Style painted wood three-drawer commodes from the early 20th century with diamond patterns and tapered feet.
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Black & White Painted Commodes
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Gustavian-style commodes, crafted in pine and painted black with decorative light grey detailing.
Brass
19th Century Large Swedish Gustavian Pair of Commodes
Located in San Angelo, TX
A pair of stunning 19th century Neoclassical Swedish Gustavian style painted wood commodes.
Wood, Paint
Pair of Neoclassical Swedish Gustavian Style Cerused Commodes
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Divine pair of cerused commodes or chests of drawers made in the Swedish Gustavian taste.
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Style Pair of Painted Bedside Commodes with Marbleized Tops
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful pair of Swedish commodes in the Gustavian style with hand-painted marbleized tops.
Wood, Paint
19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Bedside Commodes with Marbleized Tops
Located in Wichita, KS
An elegant neoclassical pair of Swedish painted commodes in the Gustavian style.
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Three-Drawer Commodes with Diamond Motifs, circa 1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
This pair of Swedish Gustavian three-drawer painted commodes from the mid-19th century features rectangular tops with canted corners in the front over three drawers each.
Wood
Pair of Swedish 1830s Gustavian Commodes with Reeded Motifs and Canted Sides
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish late Gustavian three-drawer chests with dentil molding, reeded motifs and canted side posts from the first half of the 19th century.
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Wood Three-Drawer Commodes, circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style painted wood three-drawer commodes from the late 19th century.
Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style 1870s Commodes with Dentil Molding and Rosettes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian Style painted wood three-drawer commodes from the late 19th century, with dentil molding, carved rosettes and fluted side posts.
Brass
Light Grey Pair Gustavian Style Commodes, Sweden, circa 1870
Located in New York, NY
Swedish pair of Gustavian style commodes, circa 1870. Light grey in color.
Wood
Pale Grey Gustavian Style Pair of Commodes, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
1860c Swedish pair of Gustavian style commodes. Soft grey patina.
Wood
Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes in Black with Brass Details
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Gustavian commode with marble slab in black with brass details. Fine original fittings in solid brass. Measures: Width: 81cm / 31.9" Depth: 45cm / 17.7" Height: 74cm / 29.1".
Marble
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.