Early 19th Century Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming early 19th century Gustavian writing desk featuring elegant provincial craftsmanship and beautifully aged painted surfaces.
Wood
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.
Brass
Mid-19th Century Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant mid-19th century Gustavian writing desk featuring refined Scandinavian lines and a beautifully weathered painted finish.
Wood
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 King Charles XIV. The desk having two drawers with ornate brass frames along the loc...
Brass
$2,396Sale Price|20% Off
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 hallway.
Wood, Pine, Paint
Swedish Gustavian Writing Chest
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish Gustavian writing desk in original paint. Tapered legs and a reeded drawer.
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.
Wood
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 & beautiful desk with wood-cut details & beautiful tapered legs. The beautifully cut leave...
Pine
Early 19th C. Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Drop Front Writing Desk
Located in Houston, US
Early 19th C. Swedish Gustavian style painted drop front desk light blue grey in color with brick red painted interior, brass hardware and working locks. When open, desk measures 33...
Pine, Paint
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 circa 1780-1790 with traces of thin paint on the frame and a white painted tabletop....
Pine
19th Century Swedish Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 19th-century Swedish writing desk exemplifies the timeless charm of Gustavian design, combining functionality with understated beauty.
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 "Oyster White"
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 "Oyster White"
Wood
18/19 Century Gustavian Writing Table, Desk or Center Table, Bleached, Inlaid
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Swedish or Gustavian style writing table, desk or center table.
Wood
19th Century Swedish antique rustic genuine Gustavian Desk
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish Gustavian desk from Unbyn Boden ,Northern Sweden. Nice Gustavian Desk scraped to its original paint. Stable in construction. Made in painted pine.
Wood, Pine
1980s Rustic Swedish Executive Desk in Gustavian Style
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare executive desk you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful desk is statement piec...
Wood, Paint
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 space to the desk, below three drawers opening to further storage. Repainted in soft...
Wood
Vintage Painted Wood Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This vintage Gustavian-style writing desk embodies refined Scandinavian simplicity, its rectangular top finished in a soft, weathered powder-blue that transitions to a chalky, whitew...
Wood, Paint
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 scraped to its original paint. The table has a lovely blue color. Reeded legs. Marble...
Pine
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 nice propotion & fine condition. Untouched base, the top is scraped and washed to it...
Pine
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk with Marble Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish desk from Skelleftea Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden. Untouched originalpaint with fantastic Marble paint on table top. Made in painted Pine.
Pine
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 fantastic patina. Scraped and washed to its well Preserved Originalpaint. Lovely...
Pine
19th Century Swedish Antique White Painted Partners Desk Writing Table
Located in Round Top, TX
19th century large Swedish partners desk, crafted in pine with a newer antique white painted finish and pale gray undertones. The surface is lightly distressed throughout to reveal a...
Brass
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. Nice Gustavian Desk Scraped by hand to its original paint. The table has lovely blu...
Pine
$5,038Sale Price|50% Off
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, with visible traces of use. The inner drawers have bone handles. The upper part i...
Brass
19th Century Swedish Gray Painted Two-Drawer Table or Writing Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
19th century Swedish table or writing desk crafted with two drawers fitted with brass pulls.
Brass
Elegant Swedish Gustavian Desk with Fluted Decor and a Large Drawer, Circa 1790
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish desk from the gustavian period around 1790. The desk is made by hand with a unique frame in solid pine. Original fluted decor around the whole apron and straight tapered legs...
Pine
$2,019
Swedish Writing Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Original painted Swedish 3 drawer writing table. Nicely decorated with fluted legs and swag carving. Carved on all sides so can be a free standing table, 1900. Dimensions 3...
Pine
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. — Style: Gustavian / Louis XVI — Period: 1850s — Material: Gilded wood with glass top — ...
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Single Drawer Stand, Table or Nightstand, Paint Decorated
Located in Stamford, CT
Swedish Gustavian Single Drawer Stand, Table or Nightstand, Paint Decorated A Sweet One Drawer Original Paint Decorated Stand or End Table, Writing Desk.
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 their timeless neoclassical form. Finding such tables as a matched pair is unusual, ma...
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Painted Side Table, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Versatile in use, this table may serve as a side table, writing desk, or console, blending seamlessly into both classical and contemporary interiors.
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Table, circa 1850
Located in Atlanta, GA
Its pale, weathered paint has mellowed beautifully with time, creating a soft patina that highlights the clean lines and understated sophistication characteristic of Gustavian furnit...
Wood
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 century in Sweden. Original paint in dark green. Interior with shelving, drawers an...
Bentwood
19th Century Swedish White Painted Desk or Side Table
Located in Round Top, TX
19th century Swedish desk or side table, crafted in pine. The table is raised on tapered legs topped by simple carved floral medallions, giving the piece a refined and classic Swedis...
Pine, 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 dimensions and paint colour. Kneehole dimensions: 20" wide x 24" high. Reference: ...
Pine
$2,900Sale Price|25% Off
Round Black Pedestal Dining Table, Sweden 1920
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Swedish 20th Century Pedestal Dining Table in Black Paint. This round table has beautiful Gustavian ribbed details with a border going around the table edge.
Pine
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 merchants in the 1800s. Desk features a hinged front panel that opens to reveal compartmen...
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Antique Table Desk Grey White Carved Detail, C.1860-1870
Located in Lewes, England
Beautiful Gustavian writing table desk from the second half of the 19th century with stunning patina in a grey white painted finish with the usual marks of age.
Pine
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, presented in original scraped back paint. Made from solid pine and scraped back t...
Pine, Paint
19th Century Gustavian Style Walnut Secretaire Avatant
Located in Madrid, ES
A Swedish writing desk, made of walnut wood, also decorated with gilded lateral grooves in the late Gustavian style.
Bronze
Gustavian, Bleached Wood, Barley Twist Table, Europe, 18th/19th c.
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Swedish or Gustavian Style Writing Table, Desk or Center Table.
Paint
Period Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
Fall front writing desk from the Gustavian period, Sweden, circa 1800.
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 console table has antique white color. Top has original marble. Surprising pieces and...
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 milk paint. hardware is attractive.
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 green. H 77 x W 117 x D 81 cm
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 108 x D 69 cm.
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 adjustable as shown in the pictures. Two drawers.
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 with small ODedge, one large drawer with two diamond receded shaped designs with bra...
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 flap enclosed a fitted interior comprising four columns of miniature drawers and stor...
Paint
Gustavian Style Writing Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
Writing desk in the Gustavian Style, Sweden, circa 1880.
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 opens to reveal an interior with 14 drawers and a central compartment with another re...
Brass
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 painted wood with three drawers, in very good condition.
Wood
Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
A charming little Gustavian painted slant-top secretary in a lovely bluish gray, featuring an exterior drawer and three small interior drawers below four little storage cubbies, rais...
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 beautiful carvings and classic Gustavian hardware.
Wood
Rare 18th Century Gustavian Writing Desk
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Swedish Rococo Secretary Desk retaining beautifully worn black surface with blue undertones and rich natural patina throughout. The shaped case with serpentine sides opens to a near ...
Wood
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 restrained elegance characteristic of the Gustavian style, which was inspired by the neocla...
Brass
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 tear. Complimentary delivery within 3 hours drive of Haddonfield, NJ 08033. (fx. DC...
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 back to the classic style ideals and Rococo asymmetrical ornaments disappear, and y...
Antique Gustavian Style Writing Desk with Dry Scraped Finish
Located in New York, NY
Late 18th Century Gustavian Writing Desk with a single drawer with original pull.
Pine
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk with three drawers in it's original finish with retouches. ca 1800 Sweden.
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 dark red leather top.
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.
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Unusual early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian writing desk with fine carved details.
Pine
Gustavian Style Writing Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Unique Gustavian Style Writing Desk. Its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White".
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 three drawers and a shelf. Tapered legs.
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 large diamond shape decoration on the two large drawers and smaller storage area on ...
Wood
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.
Vintage desks and writing tables span centuries of design. The writing table came first, a simple surface built for correspondence, while the drawered desk followed as record-keeping at home and in the office grew more demanding.
Styles to Know
Any desk at least 20 years old falls under this broader vintage category. If you want a tapered-leg, mid-century look specifically, browse mid-century modern desks; Louis XVI and Art Deco secretary desks bridge the writing-table and desk forms. A vintage table lamp adds task lighting to either.
How to Choose the Right Vintage Piece
Writing tables often carry little to no storage of their own, so a separate file cabinet or desk organizer may be worth planning for, alongside a close look at the surface dimensions against the space available. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and every purchase is covered by the 1stDibs Promise.
A writing desk may refer to a desk with a top, often sloping, for writing on or to a portable case with compartments to hold writing materials and a surface for writing.