Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk, Late 18th Century, Late 1700s
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish late Gustavian writing desk, late 18th century in excellent antique condition. Key
Brass
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 18th-century Swedish Gustavian writing desk, circa 1790, embodies the clean lines and
Brass
19th Century Gustavian Writing Desk by Johan Oman
By Johan Öman
Located in New York, NY
A 19th century writing desk by Swedish Master Cabinet Maker Johan Öman (1789-1833) who worked for
Brass
$2,396Sale Price|20% Off
H 34 in W 33.25 in D 25 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
This beautiful and unique 19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk is perfect for any room or
Wood, Pine, Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk with three drawers in it's original finish with
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Writing Chest
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish Gustavian writing desk in original paint. Tapered legs and a reeded drawer. Interior of 3
Wood
Writing Desk In Gustavian Style Painted In Grey From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
Grey painted writing desk in the style Gustavian from the 1840s. The desk is freestanding and
Wood
$5,729
H 30.32 in W 52.37 in D 31.89 in
19th Century Antique Swedish Gustavian Writing Table / Desk Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian desk from Umeå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden. A high-class
Pine
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gustavian table from northern Sweden in untouched original condition. The table is from the years
Pine
19th Century Swedish Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 19th-century Swedish writing desk exemplifies the timeless charm of Gustavian design
Pine
Desk Swedish Gustavian Style 2 Drawer
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Swedish Gustavian style desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints
Pine
Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints
Wood
$8,950
H 31 in W 72 in D 30 in
18/19 Century Gustavian Writing Table, Desk or Center Table, Bleached, Inlaid
Located in Manhasset, NY
Antique Swedish or Gustavian style writing table, desk or center table. This Bleached Wood table is
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian desk from Umea Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden. Nice Gustavian desk
Pine
Large 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Fall Front Desk
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Large early 19th Century Swedish fall front desk. With copious amounts of drawer storage the work
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian desk from Umeå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden. Nice Gustavian Desk
Pine
A Swedish Gustavian painted fall front desk, C. 1820.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Crafted in two pieces, this Neoclassical form desk features clean lines and understated elegance
Wood, Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian desk from Lulea Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. A beautiful desk with
Pine
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk with Marble Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish desk from Skelleftea Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden. Untouched originalpaint
Pine
$6,431
H 27.56 in W 40.16 in D 24.81 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk with Marble Imitaition Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian desk from Sundsvall Medelpad, Northern Sweden. A stunning desk with
Pine
$5,670
H 29.14 in W 38.59 in D 22.45 in
Early 19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Desk with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th century Swedish Gustavian antique rustic desk from Umeå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden
Pine
Guy Chaddock Gustavian Slant-Front Maple Secretary Desk
By Guy Chaddock
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Swedish Gustavian or Rustic European style slant front secretary desk By Guy Chaddock
Brass
Guy Chaddock Gustavian Slant-Front Maple Secretary Desk
By Guy Chaddock
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Swedish Gustavian or Rustic European style slant front secretary desk By Guy Chaddock
Brass
$6,173Sale Price|40% Off
H 48.43 in W 34.26 in D 19.3 in
Gustavian Neoclassical Mahogany Writing Chest / Bureau on High Stand, 1800s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Swedish Gustavian mahogany writing cabinet. The writing part is covered with a black patent leather
Brass
Table Swedish Gustavian Style
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Swedish Gustavian style Desk/Table. its been restored and repainted with Milk
Wood
Swedish Writing Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Original painted Swedish 3 drawer writing table. Nicely decorated with fluted legs and swag carving
Pine
$4,355
H 30.32 in W 42.92 in D 22.45 in
Antique Desk With Glass Top & Drawer In Gustavian/Louis XVI Style From 1850s
Located in Lejre, DK
Antique desk from the 1850s in Gustavian/Louis XVI style, gilded wood, glass top and drawer
Wood
Pair of Gustavian Style Painted Tables, Repainted in Light Gray
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare and elegant pair of Gustavian style tables, repainted in a soft light gray that enhances
Pine
$1,800
H 31.5 in W 34.5 in D 20 in
Swedish Gustavian Single Drawer Stand, Table or Nightstand, Paint Decorated
Located in Manhasset, NY
Original Paint Decorated Stand or End Table, Writing Desk. Having long sleek tapering legs leading to a
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Painted Side Table, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
, writing desk, or console, blending seamlessly into both classical and contemporary interiors. With its
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Table, circa 1850
Located in Atlanta, GA
refined, this table works equally well as a writing desk, side table, or console, bringing Swedish charm
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Side Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
This refined 19th century Swedish Gustavian side table embodies the timeless simplicity and
Wood
19th Century Swedish Black Painted Pine Partner’s Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
desk has been restored, is strong and stable, and is ready to be placed, used, and enjoyed as a writing
Pine, Paint
Desk Swedish 18th Century Green Original Paint Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Desk Swedish 18th Century Green Original Paint Sweden. A writing desk Swedish made during the 18th
Bentwood
19th Century Swedish Kidney Shaped Desk in Original Paint
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
19th Century Swedish painted kidney shape desk. Having two banks of three graduated drawers
Wood, Paint
Custom Build Swedish Style Dressing Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Custom build Swedish style five drawer dressing table / kneehole desk. Can be made to your chosen
Pine
Round Black Pedestal Dining Table, Sweden 1920
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gustavian ribbed details with a border going around the table edge.
Pine
$2,654
H 30.32 in W 45.67 in D 25.01 in
Swedish Gustavian style writing desk (20th Century, painted, distress)
Located in Kvidinge, SE
An early 20th century Swedish Gustavian desk made of solid pine. It has been painted in a beige
Brass
19th Century Swedish Style Shopkeeper's Slant Front Writing Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Swedish Style Painted Shopkeeper's Slanted Front Writing Desk commonly used by
Wood
$2,946Sale Price|20% Off
H 41.93 in W 43.71 in D 19.69 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary / Writing Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian Secretary / Writing Desk from early 19th century A rectangular top sitting above
Brass
Mid 19th century Swedish painted table top writing desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish painted table top writing desk circa 1850. Good quality table top bureau
Pine, Paint
Gustavian, Bleached Wood, Barley Twist Table, Europe, 18th/19th c.
Located in Manhasset, NY
Style Writing Table, Desk or Center Table. This Bleached Wood table is multi functional as it can sit
Paint
Period Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
Fall front writing desk from the Gustavian period, Sweden, circa 1800. The drawers and fall front
Wood
Gustavian Desk with Three Drawers, 1790s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish Gustavian desk 1790s ,Stockholm, mahogany,brassdecor and lethertop. Three drawers.
Mahogany
Late 19 c th Gustavian Cherrywood Desk/Table
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Late 19 th c Gustavian Cherry wood veneer on pin table with two drawers and lyra shaped legs.
Antique Gustavian Style Table
Located in Helsingborg, SE
Antique table with one-drawer in the Gustavian style. This piece has beautiful decoration. This
Marble
Large Swedish Gustavian Rectangular Table
Located in Austin, TX
Swedish elegant retangular table or desk. This antique was taken down to wood and repainted with
Pine
Unavailable
H 30.32 in W 46.07 in D 31.89 in
Antique Gustavian Pine Table with Green Paint, Sweden, Late 18th Century
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Sweden, Late 18th Century Antique genuine gustavian table from Sweden made around 1790. Painted in
Wood, Pine
Antique Gustavian Pine Table, Sweden, Late 18th Century
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Sweden, late 18th century. Gustavian pine table with tones of white and green. Measures: H 76 x W
Pine
19th Century German-Danish Architect Table
Located in Stockholm, SE
Blackened oak architect table made in Germany or Denmark. The writing desk/architect table is
Unavailable
H 30.25 in W 37.75 in D 25.63 in
Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Writing Desk, Mid-19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Swedish Gustavian style painted writing desk with one drawer, mid-19th century simple top
Wood
Unavailable
H 43.08 in W 43.9 in D 21.38 in
Antique Swedish Gustavian Bureau 19th Century Painted Writing Desk Serpentine
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
Large 19th century Swedish painted and carved bureau in the Gustavian manner. The carved fall
Paint
Gustavian Style Writing Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
Writing desk in the Gustavian Style, Sweden, circa 1880. Raised, reeded panels on the three-drawer
Wood
Unavailable
H 35.44 in W 41.34 in D 23.63 in
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.
Cherry
Swedish Slant Front Writing Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two-drawer writing desk, Sweden, circa 1880. The slant front features a raised, reeded panel and
Brass
19th Century Gustavian Style Walnut Secretaire Avatant
Located in Madrid, ES
Gustavian style. The writing desk is divided into two parts, each of which has bronze side handles to carry
Bronze
19th Century Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Gustavian writing desk, bureau plat with original bronze mounts, inset tooled leather, and
Wood
Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
A charming little Gustavian painted slant-top secretary in a lovely bluish gray, featuring an
Wood
A Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish writing desk from the Gustavian period. Painted in greyish-white and decorated with
Wood
Small Gustavian Writing Desk With Original Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming Swedish ladies desk with 2 large and 2 smaller drawers. Great original paint, wear and
18th c. Gustavian Writing Desk with Blackish Top
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A writing desk from the second Gustavian period, Late Gustavian, which meant that you were looking
Antique Gustavian Style Writing Desk with Dry Scraped Finish
Located in South Salem, NY
Late 18th Century Gustavian Writing Desk with a single drawer with original pull. Historic paint
Pine
Sold
H 29.5 in W 59.5 in D 32 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk, Neoclassical Grey Pinewood Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Swedish Gustavian freestanding writing table made of pinewood with a grey paint and a
Leather, Pine, Paint
Swedish Yellow Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Gustavian writing desk with rounded legs and two drawers with lock in good working order.
Gustavian Style Writing Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Unique Gustavian Style Writing Desk. Its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints
Wood
Writing Desk Gustavian, 18th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A writing desk made during the 18th century in Sweden. Beautiful bluish black paint. Interior with
Pine
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Table Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique late 18th Century carved elegant Swedish Gustavian painted writing desk with hand painted
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Writing Desk
Located in Houston, US
Beautifully painted in a contemporary turquoise, this Swedish Gustavian style desk is handmade with
Brass
19th Century Gustavian Side Table or Small Writing Desk
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very nice painted Gustavian side table or small writing desk. Painted to look like if the top has
Wood
Sold
H 30.76 in W 72.45 in L 30.76 in
Large Swedish Gustavian Black Painted Faux Partners Writing Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Swedish Gustavian black painted faux partners writing desk with three drawers Desk has the
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Black Painted Writing Desk with 3 Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Gustavian ladies writing desk. Charming three drawer black painted desk with three drawers
Brass
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Writing Desk
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
19th century Swedish vernacular Gustavian style writing desk, painted faux marble top with lots of
Wood
Gustavian Style Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Gustavian Style Desk, its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster
Wood
Gustavian Writing Table
Located in Chireno, TX
Gustavian writing or side table. Scraped to original paint.
Swedish Gustavian Vanity / Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian vanity / desk. Its been restored and repainted with milk paints "Oyster
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Style Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian Style Desk , its been restored and repainted in Milk Paints "Oyster
Wood
18th C. Gustavian Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Swedish Gustavian desk, probably used for official business by the local tax collector etc
Swedish Gustavian Style Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian style desk, it has been restored and repainted with milk paints "Oyster
Wood
Desk Swedish Gustavian Style
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique 2 door 3 drawer desk Swedish Gustavian Desk. the left cabinet has 3 drawers inside
Wood
A Large Gustavian Desk
Located in New York, NY
Am unusually large Swedish desk made during the Gustavian period ca 1775-1790. Repainted in soft
Gustavian Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Gustavian desk on tapered legs, veneered in mahogany. The fittings and strips are in brass. The
Leather, Mahogany
Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Gustavian style 3 drawer desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster
Wood
Swedish Gustavian 4 Leg Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian 4 leg desk, it has been restored and repainted with milk paints "Oyster
Wood
19th c, Provincial Gustavian Desk
Located in Allerum, SE
Early 19th century provincial Gustavian desk with one drawer and in its original faux painted
Pine
Desk Partner Swedish Gustavian Black Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Desk partner Swedish Gustavian black Sweden. A partners desk made during the Gustavian period in
Desk 3 Drawer Swedish Gustavian Style
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian 3 drawer desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints
Wood
Desk 5 Drawer Swedish Gustavian Style
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique 5 Drawer Swedish Gustavian Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Writing Style Circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
elegance. Its compact size and versatile design make it ideal for use as a writing desk, occasional table
Pine
Fine 19th Century Provincial Gustavian Desk
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine early 19th century provincial Gustavian desk with one drawer and in it's original finish with
Pine
Exceptional 18th Century Gustavian Architects Desk
Located in Bozeman, MT
Exceptional and rare 18th century Gustavian centre architects desk in it's original colour with
Wood
18th Century Swedish Blue Gustavian Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gustavian desk from northern Sweden made in pine. The desk is a prime example of antique Swedish
Pine
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Desk
Located in Kastrup, DK
Swedish Gustavian style freestanding writing table. Features a rectangular black-painted top
Brass
Gustavian Style Drop Leaf Writing Table by Richard Mulligan
By Richard Mulligan
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Painted drop-leaf writing table made in the Gustavian taste by Richard Mulligan. Features a 9" drop
Wood, Lacquer
Gustavian Style Desk or Secretaire, 19th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Gustavian style desk is a peerless lesson in elegant restraint. The simple exterior, when
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Desk
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A late 19th Century Gustavian style desk. Decorative carved detailing around the stretch on all
Wood
Antique Swedish Painted Writing Table Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An early-20th century Swedish painted three-drawer writing table or desk, the painted top with
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writers Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish Gustavian writers desk manufactured circa 1820. The desk has straight and tapered legs with
Pine
White Swedish Gustavian Wall Table and Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
White Gustavian table made in northern Sweden between 1790 and 1810. The table is an early example
Pine
19th Century Gustavian Buffet with Fall Front Desk
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Magnificent 19th Century Gustavian period buffet of large proportions. With original paint, this
Wood
$3,800 / item
H 15 in Dm 19.63 in
VOLARE Large Pendant Light in Dark Bronze & Blown Glass by Blueprint Lighting
By Josef Hoffmann, Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Volare draws inspiration from a collection of ornate pendants discovered by founders Kelly and Josh during a family trip to Washington, D.C. Featuring a substantial 20" pressed-glass...
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
Mid-Century Modern Style Walnut Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid-Century Modern style walnut desk with a quarter veneered writing surface, a long drawer, brass capital, and raised on turned and tapered legs with brass caps. Dimensions: 60" ...
Brass
Antique Early American 19th Century Pine Plantation Desk
Located in Forney, TX
An early American 19th century pine plantation desk with nicely aged patina. Born in the Mid-Atlantic region / Southern United States, circa 1800s, hand-crafted of solid pine wood w...
Pine
18th c. Painted Danish Cabinet
Located in Greenwich, CT
An impressive cabinet in original dry-scraped cream/grey paint, consisting of a wonderful overhanging baroque arched cornice on a two door cupboard with single adjustable shelf above...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Demi Lune Console Tables
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant pair of 19th-century Swedish demi-lune console tables embodies the timeless sophistication of Gustavian design. Crafted from pine wood, the tables feature gracefully cur...
Pine, Paint
$3,414
H 31.7 in W 22.45 in D 15.36 in
18th Century Danish Rococo Console with Original Italian Marble Top
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rococo console crafted from pine, meticulously stripped by a conservator to reveal its original, beautiful gray-marbled finish with natural patina. The console is topped with its or...
Marble
Large 19th Century Painted Kitchen Dresser
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Large 19th century English glazed and painted pine kitchen dresser with sliding doors and great storage. 1880. Top shelves are adjustable. Upper shelf depth: 26cm (10-inches) Cod...
Pine
$3,990 / item
H 34 in W 31 in D 40 in
Custom Made to Order Belgian Linen Slip Cover Club Chair with Down Cushion
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This White Linen Slip-Covered Lounge Chair fits as the perfect accent to any room. It's the perfect chair to have adjacent to a sofa, and can make every pillow look delightful in the...
Cotton, Linen, Wood, Down
The Albert, Custom Made Belgian Linen Armchair
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium. Has been used by many influent...
Linen
LU Louis SM Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The handsome LU Louis SM Sconce is a smaller version of our LU Louis Sconce, an all brass wall sconce in lightly patinated brass with patterned perforations by Lumfardo Luminaires. M...
Brass
Early 19th Century Late Gustavian Giltwood Mirror, Stockholm
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant late Gustavian mirror, crafted in Stockholm in the early 19th century. The giltwood frame retains its well-preserved original gilding, now gently washed to reveal its soft...
Mirror, Giltwood
$7,600
H 80.32 in W 55.91 in D 19.69 in
Genuine Swedish Rococo Cabinet from the Late 1700s, Made by Hand in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine Swedish rococo cabinet from the late 1700s. The cabinet is made in two parts and very well crafted from solid pine around 1770 to 1780. Healthy and stable frame with old hard...
Pine
$2,394Sale Price|20% Off
H 47.64 in W 46.86 in D 20.48 in
Gustavian Sideboard, Antique Swedish Pine & Brass, Pink Finish
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian sideboard The sideboard is painted in pink and the inside in antique white, Both in an old traditional scandinavian way with fantastic patina. The sideboard has tr...
Brass
Baroque Commode / Chest of Drawers, 18th Century.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This beautiful three-drawer commode dates to the 18th century (likely French) and has a subtle serpentine front façade. Each of the drawers and the sides are adorned with painted ara...
Wood, Paint
$4,500
H 31.25 in W 41.25 in D 20 in
Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers in Black with Brass Hardware and Carved Details
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant Gustavian-style chest of drawers, painted in matte black with a gently worn patina that enhances its architectural details. Crafted from a mix of oak, oak veneer, and pine...
Oak, Pine
$228,108Sale Price|33% Off
H 51.19 in W 55.12 in D 201.58 in
Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
Other
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.
Choosing the perfect writing desk or writing table is a profoundly personal journey, one that people have been embarking upon for centuries.
Queen Atossa of Persia, from her writing table circa 500 B.C., is said to have been the originator of the art of handwritten letters. Hers was reportedly the first in a long and colorful history of penned correspondence that grew in popularity alongside literacy. The demand for suitable writing desks, which would serve the composer of the letters as well as ensure the comfort of the recipient naturally followed, and the design of these necessary furnishings has evolved throughout history.
Once people began to seek freedom from the outwardly ornate styles of the walnut and rosewood writing desks and drafting tables introduced in the name of Queen Victoria and King Louis XV, radical shifts occurred, such as those that materialized during the Art Nouveau period, when designers longed to produce furniture inspired by the natural world’s beauty. A prime example is the work of the famous late-19th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí — his rolltop desk featured deep side drawers and was adorned with carved motifs that paid tribute to nature. Gaudí regularly combined structural precision with decorative elements, creating beautiful pieces of furniture in wood and metal.
Soon afterward, preferences for sleek, geometric, stylized forms in furniture that saw an emphasis on natural wood grains and traditional craftsmanship took hold. Today, Art Deco desks are still favored by designers who seek to infuse interiors with an air of luxury. One of the most prominent figures of the Art Deco movement was French decorator and furniture designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. With his use of neoclassical motifs as well as expensive and exotic materials such as imported dark woods and inlays of precious metals for his writing desks, Ruhlmann came to symbolize good taste and modernity.
The rise in appreciation for Scandinavian modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary writing desks. It employs the “no fuss” or “less is more” approach to creating a tasteful, sophisticated space. Sweden’s master cabinetmaker Bruno Mathsson created gallery-worthy designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto never viewed himself as an artist, but, like Mathsson, his furniture designs reflected a fondness for organic materials and a humanistic approach. Danish designers such as Hans Wegner introduced elegant shapes and lines to mid-century desks and writing tables, often working in oak and solid teak.
From vintage desks to contemporary styles, 1stDibs offers a broad spectrum of choices for conducting all personal and business writing and reading activities.