Gustavian Vases
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.
Early 2000s American Gustavian Vases
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Burl
1960s Danish Vintage Gustavian Vases
Ceramic
Late 17th Century German Antique Gustavian Vases
Other
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Ceramic
18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Silver
17th Century French Antique Gustavian Vases
Sandstone
Late 20th Century Gustavian Vases
Wood
18th Century South Korean Antique Gustavian Vases
Pottery
Mid-20th Century American Gustavian Vases
Wood
1920s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Vases
Ceramic
1960s Danish Vintage Gustavian Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware
1860s Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Silver
18th Century Peruvian Antique Gustavian Vases
Pottery
17th Century Peruvian Antique Gustavian Vases
Pottery
20th Century American Gustavian Vases
Wood, Maple
1920s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Vases
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Mexican Gustavian Vases
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Silver
19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Glass
19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Vases
Glass