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Swedish Gustavian Commode

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

Swedish 19th century painted chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

19th century painted chest of drawers circa 1870. Substantial baroque revival swedish chest of

Category

Antique 1870s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Paint

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

Pair of 19th century painted Swedish chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

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

Category

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

Materials

Paint, Pine

Mid 20th Century Vintage Boho Gustavian Style Washed Chest of Drawers
Mid 20th Century Vintage Boho Gustavian Style Washed Chest of Drawers

Mid 20th Century Vintage Boho Gustavian Style Washed Chest of Drawers

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A stunning vintage Boho chest of drawers. A chic Gustavian style cabinet in an off white washed

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

19th Century Swedish Stone Top Black Small Chest of Three Drawers
19th Century Swedish Stone Top Black Small Chest of Three Drawers

19th Century Swedish Stone Top Black Small Chest of Three Drawers

Located in Round Top, TX

dusky lavender stone unique to eastern Sweden. Fluted carving along the side columns and tapered fluted

Category

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

Materials

Stone

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

19th century Swedish painted pine chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

19th century Swedish painted pine chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality 3 drawer chest of

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

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

Swedish pair of white 19th century painted chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Swedish painted commodes. Top surface with hand painted faux marble effect, canted corners and moulded

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Swedish Miniature  Chest of Drawers with original paint Country
19th Century Swedish Miniature  Chest of Drawers with original paint Country

19th Century Swedish Miniature Chest of Drawers with original paint Country

Located in Boden, SE

Original painted Scandinavian miniature chest of drawers from Luleå Norrbotten ,Northern Sweden

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Swedish early 19th century hand painted pine chest of drawers
Swedish early 19th century hand painted pine chest of drawers

Swedish early 19th century hand painted pine chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Swedish early 19th century painted pine chest of drawers circa 1800. Fine quality chest of drawers

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

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

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

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

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

Category

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

Materials

Oak, Pine, Paint

Late 19th Century Black Swedish Serpentine 4 Drawer Chest
Late 19th Century Black Swedish Serpentine 4 Drawer Chest

Late 19th Century Black Swedish Serpentine 4 Drawer Chest

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

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

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century European Chests of Drawers, Circa 1880
Pair of 19th Century European Chests of Drawers, Circa 1880

Pair of 19th Century European Chests of Drawers, Circa 1880

Located in Atlanta, GA

bedside commodes, matching end tables, or a sophisticated pair flanking a fireplace or sofa. With their

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Early 19th Century French Oak Painted Chest of Drawers
Early 19th Century French Oak Painted Chest of Drawers

Early 19th Century French Oak Painted Chest of Drawers

Located in Round Top, TX

Early 19th-century French oak chest of three drawers with newer professionally layered painted finish in tones of gray, blue, and antique white blended for a soft, mottled effect. Ca...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Oak

Antique Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Mahogany, Circa 1890-1910
Antique Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Mahogany, Circa 1890-1910

Antique Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Mahogany, Circa 1890-1910

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A late 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian chest, commode with three drawers made of hand

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinets

Materials

Stone, Metal, Brass

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

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

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Swedish commodes. Rectangular tops with canted corners and hand painted to look like marble with marks

Category

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

Materials

Pine, Paint

18th century painted oak Scandinavian baroque chest of drawers
18th century painted oak Scandinavian baroque chest of drawers

18th century painted oak Scandinavian baroque chest of drawers

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

oak this 4 drawer commode offers generous proportions. 4 shaped drawers with ornate brass handles and

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian 6-Drawer Commode in Coral Red
Swedish Gustavian 6-Drawer Commode in Coral Red

Swedish Gustavian 6-Drawer Commode in Coral Red

Located in Eindhoven, Netherlands

This Swedish Gustavian commode, in the typical Northern Swedish coral red paint, has a total of 6

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Swedish Commode, Gustavian 18th Century
Swedish Commode, Gustavian 18th Century

Swedish Commode, Gustavian 18th Century

Located in New Haven, CT

18th century Swedish serpentine front three drawer commode. Gustavian period, ca 1790. The body of

Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Kingwood, Tulipwood

Gustavian Style Commode
Gustavian Style Commode

Gustavian Style Commode

Unavailable|$4,200

Gustavian Style Commode

Located in Sheffield, MA

Chest of drawers in the Gustavian style, Sweden circa 1880. Shaped top, canted corners and tapering

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

18th Century Gustavian Commode
18th Century Gustavian Commode

18th Century Gustavian Commode

Located in Hamburg, Hamburg

This stunning 18th century Gustavian commode from Sweden features beautiful fittings and

Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Gustavian Commode
19th Century Gustavian Commode

19th Century Gustavian Commode

Located in Birmingham, AL

19th century three drawer Gustavian commode finished in soft taupe with brass hardware.

Category

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

Materials

Pine

19th Century Gustavian Commode
19th Century Gustavian Commode

19th Century Gustavian Commode

Located in Birmingham, AL

19th century Gustavian commode with three drawers finished in deep grey or black. Brass hardware.

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Small Gustavian Commode with Marble Imitated Top, Sweden, circa 1780-1800
Small Gustavian Commode with Marble Imitated Top, Sweden, circa 1780-1800

Small Gustavian Commode with Marble Imitated Top, Sweden, circa 1780-1800

Located in Aabenraa, DK

Small and charming Gustavian commode with marble imitated top and three drawers in a nice condition.

Category

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

Materials

Pine

SALE!-Gustavian 1920th  Floral Ornated Commode
SALE!-Gustavian 1920th  Floral Ornated Commode

SALE!-Gustavian 1920th Floral Ornated Commode

Located in Boca Raton, FL

Oak and walnut venner handcarved with floral decorations, Gustavian commode.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Late 18th Century Scraped Gustavian Commode, Sweden, circa 1780-1800
Late 18th Century Scraped Gustavian Commode, Sweden, circa 1780-1800

Late 18th Century Scraped Gustavian Commode, Sweden, circa 1780-1800

Located in Aabenraa, DK

Very nice commode scraped to it's original color with light professional retouches.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chest
Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chest

Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chest

Located in Warminster, Wiltshire

A Swedish painted chest in the Gustavian style with nice detailing - reeded top drawer, simple

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

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

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests

Located in Bethesda, MD

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

Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

Pair of Swedish Painted Gustavian Style Chests

Located in Warminster, Wiltshire

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

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests

Unavailable|$11,500 / set

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Chests

Located in Houston, TX

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

Category

Antique 1810s Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Swedish Gustavian Bureau, circa 1760
Swedish Gustavian Bureau, circa 1760

Swedish Gustavian Bureau, circa 1760

Located in Charlotte, NC

Swedish Gustavian beautifully shaped block front desk. Light blue paint has had some touch up. The

Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Style White Painted Chests

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Period Antique Painted Chest of Drawers, 18th Century
Swedish Gustavian Period Antique Painted Chest of Drawers, 18th Century

Swedish Gustavian Period Antique Painted Chest of Drawers, 18th Century

Located in Helsingborg, SE

A beautiful Swedish period Gustavian painted chest of drawers with fluted corner posts and tapered

Category

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

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

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Chests

Located in Encinitas, CA

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

Category

Antique 19th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Antique Gustavian Biedermeier Swedish Mirror and Dresser
Antique Gustavian Biedermeier Swedish Mirror and Dresser

Antique Gustavian Biedermeier Swedish Mirror and Dresser

Located in Miami, FL

label reads a Gustavian Biedermeier, circa 1820, Sweden. The dresser houses four drawers. They are all

Category

Antique Early 1800s Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Swedish Chest of Drawers in the Gustavian Style
Swedish Chest of Drawers in the Gustavian Style

Swedish Chest of Drawers in the Gustavian Style

Located in Sheffield, MA

Gustavian style chest with four graduated drawers, Sweden circa 1860. Dentil molding at the top and

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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

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

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers
Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Located in Sheffield, MA

Swedish chest of drawers in the Gustavian Style, circa 1850. Three drawers, each with a raised and

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Period Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Period Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Period Gustavian Chest of Drawers

Located in Sheffield, MA

Late Gustavian chest of drawers, Sweden circa 1800, with faux porphyry top. Each of the four drawer

Category

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

Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers
Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Located in Sheffield, MA

Gustavian Style chest of drawers with reeded drawer fronts, Sweden, circa 1860. Canted corners with

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Period Chest of Drawers, Sweden, 19th Century
Gustavian Period Chest of Drawers, Sweden, 19th Century

Gustavian Period Chest of Drawers, Sweden, 19th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

A Gustavian period chest of drawers, Sweden, 19th century.

Category

Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers
Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers

Located in Sheffield, MA

Late Gustavian chest of drawers, Sweden, circa 1830, with fish scale carving at the corners. Shaped

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chest
Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chest

Gustavian Style Three-Drawer Chest

Located in Sheffield, MA

Chest of drawers in the Gustavian Style, Sweden, circa 1840. Dentil molding at the top, canted

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Fine Swedish Chest of Drawers with Gustavian Style Framed Drawer Fronts
Fine Swedish Chest of Drawers with Gustavian Style Framed Drawer Fronts

Fine Swedish Chest of Drawers with Gustavian Style Framed Drawer Fronts

Located in New York, NY

Gustavian Style, with oak case and legs and drawer fronts in amboyna (burl walnut) surrounded by mahogany

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Burl, Mahogany, Oak, Amboyna

18th Century Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers
18th Century Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers

18th Century Gustavian Blue Painted Chest of Drawers

Located in Froxfield, Wiltshire

An 18th century Gustavian blue painted chest of drawers, Swedish, circa 1780.

Category

Antique 1780s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Early 1800s Antique Swedish Gustavian Country Pine Commode
Early 1800s Antique Swedish Gustavian Country Pine Commode

Early 1800s Antique Swedish Gustavian Country Pine Commode

Located in Singapore, SG

A typical Gustavian style cabinet from early 1800s Sweden. Stunning sideboard in all original state

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinets

Materials

Pine

Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers, 18th Century
Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers, 18th Century

Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers, 18th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

Swedish Gustavian period chest of drawers from the late 18th Century, circa 1790. It has three

Category

Antique Late 18th 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 Swedish chests of drawers, circa 1870, in the Gustavian Style. The drawers have a reeded

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Early Gustavian Chest
Early Gustavian Chest

Early Gustavian Chest

Unavailable|$7,500

Early Gustavian Chest

Located in Fredericksburg, TX

Tailored, linear design most prevalent in pieces from the Gustavian period, this piece oozes soul

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Antique Gustavian Chest of Drawers, circa 1820
Antique Gustavian Chest of Drawers, circa 1820

Antique Gustavian Chest of Drawers, circa 1820

Located in Helsingborg, SE

Gustavian chest with three drawers. Edge have vertical cutters. This chest is Classic and timeless

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Antique 1840 th Walnut Chest of Drawers  with Intarsia
Gustavian Antique 1840 th Walnut Chest of Drawers  with Intarsia

Gustavian Antique 1840 th Walnut Chest of Drawers with Intarsia

Located in Boca Raton, FL

Elegant antique Walnut commode with delicate intarsia and original hardware chest, 1812-42

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

SALE!-Gustavian Antique 19 th c  Cherrywood Chest - Writing desk
SALE!-Gustavian Antique 19 th c  Cherrywood Chest - Writing desk

SALE!-Gustavian Antique 19 th c Cherrywood Chest - Writing desk

Located in Boca Raton, FL

Gustavian antique 19 th c cherry wood veneer on pine chest, opening into a writing desk.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

Antique Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, 1860s
Antique Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, 1860s

Antique Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers, 1860s

Located in Helsingborg, SE

Antique chest with three drawers in the Gustavian style. In the upper part of the furniture there

Category

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

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Chest
19th Century Swedish Chest

19th Century Swedish Chest

Unavailable|$5,200

19th Century Swedish Chest

Located in Corona del Mar, CA

This Swedish Gustavian chest is as pretty as they come! 19th century. Gorgeous pale blue patina

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Period Gustavian Two Drawer Chest
Period Gustavian Two Drawer Chest

Period Gustavian Two Drawer Chest

Located in Sheffield, MA

Gustavian chest of two drawers, Sweden circa 1820, with chamfered corners, fluted corner posts, and

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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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.