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Swedish Gustavian Commode

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Antique Genuine Swedish Original Gustavian Period Handmade Chest of Drawers
Antique Genuine Swedish Original Gustavian Period Handmade Chest of Drawers

Antique Genuine Swedish Original Gustavian Period Handmade Chest of Drawers

Located in Kramfors, SE

Antique Swedish chest of drawers from the 1700s in gustavian style. The chest is a genuine Swedish

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers, Pair
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers, Pair

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers, Pair

Located in Round Top, TX

A pair of decorative Gustavian pine chest of three drawers with Greek key motif carved in upper top

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Smal Swedish Chest of Drawers (19th Century, Gustavian-Style, Painted)
Smal Swedish Chest of Drawers (19th Century, Gustavian-Style, Painted)

Smal Swedish Chest of Drawers (19th Century, Gustavian-Style, Painted)

Located in Kvidinge, SE

Breathe timeless European charm into your home with this stunning Gustavian-style three-drawer

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian-Style Blue Chest of Drawers with Faux Marble Top
Swedish Gustavian-Style Blue Chest of Drawers with Faux Marble Top

Swedish Gustavian-Style Blue Chest of Drawers with Faux Marble Top

Located in Atlanta, GA

A refined Swedish Gustavian-style chest of drawers. Crafted in pine, this piece is painted in a

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Mahogany box with Domed Lid
Swedish Gustavian Mahogany box with Domed Lid

Swedish Gustavian Mahogany box with Domed Lid

Located in New York, NY

triangular tassels along the legs, having signature brass mounts with three triangles lamenting the Swedish

Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Gustavian Chest of Drawers in Light Gray, Sweden c. 1780–1790
Gustavian Chest of Drawers in Light Gray, Sweden c. 1780–1790

Gustavian Chest of Drawers in Light Gray, Sweden c. 1780–1790

Located in Kastrup, DK

Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers from the late 18th century. Finished in a soft grey-white tone

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Celadon Three Drawer Dresser
Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Celadon Three Drawer Dresser

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Celadon Three Drawer Dresser

Located in Locust Valley, NY

A Swedish Gustavian style three drawer chest hand painted celadon green with fluted edges to each

Category

Late 20th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Chest with Diamond Motifs
Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Chest with Diamond Motifs

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Chest with Diamond Motifs

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chest from the 20th century with three drawers, carved

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Large Gray Chest of Four Drawers
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Large Gray Chest of Four Drawers

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Large Gray Chest of Four Drawers

Located in Round Top, TX

Stately Gustavian chest of four drawers with dentil molding carved along top and gentle fluted

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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

Swedish 19th century hand painted Gustavian chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

19th century hand painted Gustavian chest of drawers circa 1820. 3 drawer commode with shaped

Category

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

Materials

Oak, Paint

19th Century Walnut Swedish Writing Commode / Chest of Drawers
19th Century Walnut Swedish Writing Commode / Chest of Drawers

19th Century Walnut Swedish Writing Commode / Chest of Drawers

Located in Barcelona, ES

19th century Swedish writing commode / chest of drawers Date: 1800 Material: Walnut Structure

Category

Antique Early 1800s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest with Five Drawers and Fluted Motifs
Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest with Five Drawers and Fluted Motifs

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest with Five Drawers and Fluted Motifs

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style painted chestwith five drawers, discreetly marbleized top, carved fluted

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Commode Circa 1860
19th Century Swedish Commode Circa 1860

19th Century Swedish Commode Circa 1860

Located in Atlanta, GA

A beautiful 19th-century Swedish Gustavian-style commode, circa 1860, painted in a soft gray with a

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Beech

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Wood Three-Drawer Chest with Carved Motifs
Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Wood Three-Drawer Chest with Carved Motifs

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Wood Three-Drawer Chest with Carved Motifs

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chest from the mid 19th century, with three drawers, raised

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest
Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in black. This classic Gustavian commode is a very

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Style Green Painted Chest of Drawers Dresser
Swedish Gustavian Style Green Painted Chest of Drawers Dresser

Swedish Gustavian Style Green Painted Chest of Drawers Dresser

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Green Painted Swedish Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest Bureau. This three drawer bureau is based on

Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Style Apothecary Chest with 10 Drawers and Carved Dentil
Swedish Gustavian Style Apothecary Chest with 10 Drawers and Carved Dentil

Swedish Gustavian Style Apothecary Chest with 10 Drawers and Carved Dentil

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood apothecary chest with carved dentil molding, 10 drawers

Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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

Antique Swedish Genuine Tall Red Painted Gustavian Country Chest of Drawers
Antique Swedish Genuine Tall Red Painted Gustavian Country Chest of Drawers

Antique Swedish Genuine Tall Red Painted Gustavian Country Chest of Drawers

Located in Kramfors, SE

Swedish country house chest of drawers in gustavian style. The chest of drawers is a Swedish

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Chest with Good Clean Lines
Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Chest with Good Clean Lines

Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Chest with Good Clean Lines

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style wooden chest from the turn of the 19th and 20th century. This antique

Category

Early 20th Century French Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Three-Drawer Chest with Carved Foliage
Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Three-Drawer Chest with Carved Foliage

Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Painted Three-Drawer Chest with Carved Foliage

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood chest from late 19th century, with three graduated drawers

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish 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 Gustavian-Style Painted Chest of Drawers, 20th Century
Swedish Gustavian-Style Painted Chest of Drawers, 20th Century

Swedish Gustavian-Style Painted Chest of Drawers, 20th Century

Located in Shippensburg, PA

SWEDISH GUSTAVIAN-STYLE PAINTED CHEST OF DRAWERS Northern European, 20th Century 39 1/4" H x 21 1

Category

20th Century European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest
Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in Gustavian blue. This classic Gustavian style commode

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

Painted Pine Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60
Painted Pine Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60

Painted Pine Gustavian Chest of Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1840-60

Located in Round Top, TX

Gustavian painted pine chest of three drawers with "Greek key" or meander design along top and pair

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Empire Style Painted Chest
Swedish Gustavian Empire Style Painted Chest

Swedish Gustavian Empire Style Painted Chest

Located in Dallas, TX

19th century Swedish Gustavian Empire style painted chest. You're exploring a piece that blends

Category

Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

18th–19th Century Swedish Gustavian Two-Part Pinewood Bureau in Grey
18th–19th Century Swedish Gustavian Two-Part Pinewood Bureau in Grey

18th–19th Century Swedish Gustavian Two-Part Pinewood Bureau in Grey

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A 18th-19th century, light-grey, white antique Swedish Gustavian two part bureau made of hand

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Swedish Pair of Gustavian Three Drawer Dressers with Faux Marble Tops
Swedish Pair of Gustavian Three Drawer Dressers with Faux Marble Tops

Swedish Pair of Gustavian Three Drawer Dressers with Faux Marble Tops

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Pair Of Light Grey Gustavian Chest of Drawers With 3 Drawer Dressers, Brass Hardware and with Faux

Category

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

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Chest of Drawers
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Chest of Drawers

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Three-Drawer Chest of Drawers

Located in Charleston, SC

A Swedish Gustavian style painted chest of drawers, dated around 1890, with shaped top, canted

Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Chest with Two Drawers and Grey Painted Outlines
Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Chest with Two Drawers and Grey Painted Outlines

Swedish Gustavian Style 1890s Chest with Two Drawers and Grey Painted Outlines

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style painted chest circa 1890 with two drawers, carved fluted molding, light

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Mid-19th Century Black Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden
Mid-19th Century Black Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden

Mid-19th Century Black Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Mid-19th Century chest of drawers painted in black. This classic Gustavian commode or dresser is a

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of D...

Materials

Brass

Nightstands Gustavian Style
Nightstands Gustavian Style

Nightstands Gustavian Style

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a set of 2 Gustavian Style 2 door 1 drawer Nightstands. they have been restored and

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Three Drawer Chest, circa 1800-1820
Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Three Drawer Chest, circa 1800-1820

Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Three Drawer Chest, circa 1800-1820

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Swedish 19th Century chest of drawers painted at a later date in Gustavian blue paint with

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of...

Materials

Brass

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 Late 19th Century Faux Marble-Top Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers
Swedish Late 19th Century Faux Marble-Top Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Swedish Late 19th Century Faux Marble-Top Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Swedish 19th century faux marble-top Gustavian style chest of drawers with brass hardware. EUR

Category

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

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

Located in Boden, SE

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of drawers with untouched Original paint from Skelleftea

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Chest Of Drawers Swedish Gustavian Style Midnight Black
Chest Of Drawers Swedish Gustavian Style Midnight Black

Chest Of Drawers Swedish Gustavian Style Midnight Black

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a matching set of Swedish Gustaviann style chest of drawers.

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

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

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers, Circa 1830-40
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers, Circa 1830-40

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers, Circa 1830-40

Located in Charleston, SC

This Gustavian style chest of drawers from Sweden ca 1830-40 in pine wood, painted finish in soft

Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Gustavian Style RARE Butlers Desk
Gustavian Style RARE Butlers Desk

Gustavian Style RARE Butlers Desk

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a very unique Gustavian style 3 drawer Butlers Desk. its been restored and repainted with

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Swedish Black Chest on Chest, early 19th Century
Gustavian Swedish Black Chest on Chest, early 19th Century

Gustavian Swedish Black Chest on Chest, early 19th Century

Located in South Salem, NY

The early 19th-century Swedish Chest on Chest is a captivating and functional piece of furniture

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers Circa 1870
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers Circa 1870

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers Circa 1870

Located in Atlanta, GA

This elegant 19th-century Swedish chest of drawers, crafted circa 1870, is a fine example of the

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in Kastrup, DK

Gustavian chest of drawers in mahogany with beautiful grain pattern. Original brass fittings, locks

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790
Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790

Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790

Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

Late 18th Century Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1790 A refined Gustavian chest of

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Gustavian, Swedish Commode, Gray Paint Distressed, Brass, Sweden, 1800s
Gustavian, Swedish Commode, Gray Paint Distressed, Brass, Sweden, 1800s

Gustavian, Swedish Commode, Gray Paint Distressed, Brass, Sweden, 1800s

Located in Stamford, CT

Gustavian, Swedish Commode, Gray Paint Distressed, Brass, Sweden, 1800s Gustavian dresser or chest

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Dressers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Gustavian Chest Of Drawers Grey Painted, Swedish Origin From 1840s
Gustavian Chest Of Drawers Grey Painted, Swedish Origin From 1840s

Gustavian Chest Of Drawers Grey Painted, Swedish Origin From 1840s

Located in Lejre, DK

Gustavian chest of drawers from the 1840s with three drawers, painted grey in a classic style. Top

Category

Antique 1840s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style
Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique Gustavian Style 5 drawer chest of drawers. its been restored and repainted with

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style
Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Chest Of Drawers Gustavian Style

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique 4 drawer Gustavian style Chest of Drawers / Show Cabinet. its been restored and

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers with Untouched Original Paint

Located in Boden, SE

A very genuine 19th century Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers from Umea Vasterbotten, Northen

Category

Antique Early 19th Century European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Pine

Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest
Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest

Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a Gustavian style 3 drawer chest, its been restored and repainted with Milk paints "Oyster

Category

Antique 1880s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

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Swedish Gustavian Commode For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal Swedish gustavian commode for your home. Each Swedish gustavian commode for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, softwood and pine. Find 636 options for an antique or vintage Swedish gustavian commode now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a Swedish gustavian commode — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Each Swedish gustavian commode bearing Neoclassical, Empire or Louis XVI hallmarks is very popular. Carl Gustaf Foltjern, Isac Löfgren and Tara Shaw Maison each produced at least one beautiful Swedish gustavian commode that is worth considering.

How Much is a Swedish Gustavian Commode?

A Swedish gustavian commode can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $5,514, while the lowest priced sells for $895 and the highest can go for as much as $48,000.

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.