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Gustavian Furniture

GUSTAVIAN STYLE

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.

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Style: Gustavian
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Gray Painted Greek Key Chests of Drawers
Located in Shippensburg, PA
PAIR OF GUSTAVIAN STYLE CHESTS OF DRAWERS Probably Northern or Eastern Europe ca. 20th/21st century 35 3/8" H x 18 1/2" D x 35 1/8" W A matched pair of Gustavian style commodes, ea...
Category

20th Century European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Small Antique Gustavian Style Bleached Side Table. English C.1800
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Elegant bleached tropical hardwood table Lovely colour Recently bleached With 2 drawers Original brass hardware Free Uk shipping
Category

Early 1800s English Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Bedside Chests Commodes
Located in Shippensburg, PA
PAIR OF SWEDISH PAINTED BEDSIDE CHESTS IN GUSTAVIAN TASTE Northern European, circa 20th century 30 5/8" H x 18 3/4" D x 32 1/8" W A fine pair of diminutive bedside commodes in the ...
Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Harlequin Set of 10 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A wonderful set of ten English limed oak chairs. Not quite matching. There are actually 3 different models ( 4 + 3 + 3 ). Each chair has a variation of the same basic characteristi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

Gustavian style Chest of Drawers from the Late 18th Century
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Gustavian-style Chest of Drawers from the Late 18th Century This exquisite chest of drawers dates back to around 1790, representing the elegance of the Gustavian style. Crafted fro...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Set of 4 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs.English C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A delightful matching set of 4 English limed oak chairs. They have been recently limed to enhance the beautiful grain in the wood. The seats have been re-upholstered in hessian or...
Category

Early 20th Century English Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

Pair of Gustavian Style Black Painted Commodes, Sweden
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of Swedish commodes in Gustavian style, dating from circa 1840–1860. Executed in black painted pine and mounted with patinated brass fittings, the commodes feature a profiled...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Set of 6 Antique 18 C Gustavian Dining Chairs W Carolina Irving Andaluz Linen
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Set of 6 Antique 18 C Gustavian Dining Chairs W Carolina Irving Andaluz Linen Fabric
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique 18th C. Gustavian Swedish EmpireLinen Press Cabinet
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 18th C. Gustavian Swedish EmpireLinen Press Cabinet
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair, 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Nightstands Small Cabinets
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, small Swedish country Gustavian style painted nightstands or small cabinets standing on tapered feet. Two doors over one drawer; key and lock function in one, key used only as ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Gustavian-Style Blue Wellington Chest
Located in Kastrup, DK
Wellington chest in Gustavian style, crafted from blue-painted pine. The front is fitted with six drawers featuring brass handles, a profiled top edge, and canted corners adorned wit...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Swedish Genuine Gustavian Period Decorated Foot Stool with Original Seat
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique foot stool from the Swedish gustavian period around 1770 to 1780. This Swedish antique has classic carved wooden decor on the legs and sides. Original paint from the ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers in Distressed Blue Paint, circa 1920
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare and beautifully patinated Gustavian-style chest of drawers, crafted in Sweden around 1920. This three-drawer chest stands on tapered legs and features classic neoclassical det...
Category

1920s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Pine

Gustavian Painted Dining Table Circa 1810
Located in Houston, TX
Gustavian painted dining table circa 1810. Racetrack shaped top Swedish dining table in light gray and white painted finish.
Category

1810s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

18th Century Gustavian Period Commode in Black Paint, circa 1780
Located in Atlanta, GA
An authentic late 18th-century Swedish Gustavian period commode, circa 1780, featuring its original structure with a later black-painted finish. This striking piece showcases the ele...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Danish Gustavian (Louis XVI) Pine Chest of Drawers with Original Brass Fittings
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative Gustavian chest of drawers (known in Denmark as Louis XVI) crafted in pine, carefully stripped back to its original black paint with a beautifully aged patina. The top is ...
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Cent Gustavian Style Pine Chest of Drawers in Dark Grey with Marbleized Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Gustavian style chest of drawers from Sweden, dating circa 1880–1890, crafted in pine wood and finished in a sophisticated palette of soft grey with a darker, marbleized to...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers with Brass Handles
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Gustavian-style chest of drawers is a refined example of Swedish neoclassical design, crafted in pine and finished in a soft gray paint that enhances its timeless appeal. The ch...
Category

19th Century Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Gray Settee Bench
Located in Round Top, TX
This exceptional Swedish Gustavian sofa or settee has exquisitely carved details along back and skirt, all raised on six turned feet. Please enlarge and examine the close up photos t...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Foam, Pine, Paint

Swedish Gustavian Style Blue Painted Bowfront Chest of Drawers ca. 1800
Located in Shippensburg, PA
NORTHERN EUROPEAN BOWFRONT CHEST OF DRAWERS IN THE ENGLISH TASTE Probably Sweden or Denmark ca. 1800 Pine and mixed woods with later bluish-black paint over original inlaid veneers a...
Category

19th Century European Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

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...
Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak, Pine

Vintage large Scandinavian commode in pine from the 19 century
Located in SAINT-YRIEIX-SUR-CHARENTE, FR
Antique 19th century Scandinavian chest of drawers in solid pine opening to 5 drawers. The top drawer is thinner and has compartments. The whole structure is divided into two parts a...
Category

1850s Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish hand painted 19th century pine cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish hand painted 19th century pine cupboard circa 1788. We are pleased to offer this fine piece of traditional hand painted scandinavian furniture, in the form of a double door ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Chelsea Textiles Gustavian Chest of Drawers Nightstands
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Hand painted, in a wonderful Scandinavian neutral creamy gray color, Gustavian style chest of drawers or nightstand. This piece has been constructed from solid wood with a hand-appli...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair, 19th Century White Swedish Gustavian Bookcases Display Cabinets
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of tall Gustavian style white painted pine bookcases standing just under 8' tall. Dentil molding along crown and traditional fluted carving along cabinet door panels. Two interi...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Glass, Pine, Paint

19th century Scandinavian walnut chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Scandinavian walnut chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality Swedish chest of drawers unusually made in walnut. Rectangular top with moulded edge and canted front cor...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Pine

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Corner Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking late 18th-century Gustavian period corner cabinet from Sweden, featuring the classic neoclassical elegance of the era. Crafted in two parts, the cabinet showcases paneled ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Pair of Antique Painted Walnut Console Tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 20th Century, antique pair of Swedish Gustavian freestanding console tables made of hand crafted painted Walnut, in good condition. The detailed Scandinavian end tables are ...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Walnut

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...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

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, with a soft painted finish typical of the Gustavian palette. The upper section has o...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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 gustavian furniture with four drawers made by hand in solid pine around 1790. Class...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Gustavian Chest of Drawers, Sweden, 19th Century A beautifully proportioned Gustavian chest of drawers from 19th-century Sweden, showcasing the hallmark simplicity and lightness of...
Category

1840s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Softwood

Rare Swedish Antique Cabinet, Genuine Country Furniture in Gustavian Style
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish antique cabinet, a genuine country house furniture in gustavian style from northern Sweden. The cabinet is made by hand in solid p...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Gustavian Klismos Dining Chairs by Nierman Weeks, Set of 8
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Set of 8 exquisite Gustavian Klismos dining chairs by Niermann Weeks. Inspired by Grecian 18th century design, this Swedish style version is generous...
Category

Early 2000s American Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood, Paint, Upholstery

19th - 20th Century Swedish Mahogany Chest of Drawers - Antique Stone Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian chest, commode with three drawers made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The rectangular Scandinav...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Stone, Metal, Brass

Genuine Antique Swedish Gustavian Period Sideboard with Light Distressed Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish sideboard from the gustavian period around 1780. The sideboard is made in Stockholm by hand with a frame in solid pine. It has the straight classic shape with...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Tall Painted Wood Column Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Bring a touch of Scandinavian classical architecture into your home with this impressive vintage Column Pedestal. Certainly makes a wonderful addition to any home seeking a display p...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th Century Swedish Antique Trumeau
Located in New Orleans, LA
This elegant 18th-century Swedish trumeau captures the refined elegance spirit of the Gustavian period, with its light-colored frame and gilded accents. The upper panel features deli...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock from the 1960's in original colour with painted floral decoration. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime on the hour. Width:...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Armoire - Antique Scandinavian Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian armoire, wardrobe made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The tall blue-grey Scan...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mid 19th century Swedish pine long case mora clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish pine long case mora clock circa 1850. Large Swedish long case mora clock, presented in scraped back paint. Scraped back down to reveal a partial colour of ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock from the 1960's in original wood. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime on the hour. Width: 56cm / 22.0" Depth: 16.5cm / 6.5...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century White Painted Swedish Gustavian Pine Sideboard Console Buffet
Located in Round Top, TX
This lovely Gustavian sideboard comes from the Swedish countryside. The simple fluted carving along the panel doors was a traditional element in Swedish furniture from this era. The ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Located in Houston, TX
The commode features three nice sized drawers with sufficient storage. Solid wood painted in a soft white, brass handles and keyholes. This piece is a wonderful storage solution wit...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Side Occasional Bedside Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This Swedish style hand painted, in a Scandinavian neutral green color, table has been constructed from solid wood. Classic details on this table including a hand-applied finish and ...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 19th century painted Swedish Gustavian sofa
Located in London, GB
A nice C19th painted Swedish Gustavian sofa. It features a typical high back with a classical understated decorative border detail and two turned wood finials at each end. Repainted ...
Category

1810s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pair of Pinewood Chests - Antique Commodes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique pair of light-grey Swedish Gustavian chests made of hand crafted painted Pinewood with two large drawers and one small one, in good condition. The Scandinavia...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Large Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers Dresser
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gray Painted Swedish Gustavian Style 3 Drawer Chest Bureau. This three drawer bureau is based on an 18th Century Gustavian antique chest of drawers. The chest is handmade and hand pa...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Gustavian Period 1810s Swedish Gray Painted Console Table with Carved Garlands
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period console table from circa 1810 with light gray painted finish, carved garlands and diamond motifs, and tapered fluted legs. This Swedish Gustavian period c...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of 19th century Swedish Gustavian chairs from Lindome Halland, Southern Sweden. A Very nice and decorative Chair model with a cut lily in the back of the chair. Nicely cut ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock dated 1854 with hand painted floral details. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime on the hour. Width:51cm / 20.1" Depth: 21...
Category

1850s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Hall Console Table with Carving
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted Hand Carved Entry Hall Console Table Hand painted and hand distressed in authentic Scandinavian colors. This table has been painted in blue with ...
Category

Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century Swedish Vitrine
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional Swedish vitrine cupboard, dating back to around 1850, is a remarkable example of classic Scandinavian design. Crafted from solid pine, the piece retains its original...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Glass, Pine

Pair of Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes, A Pair Classic Pair Swedish Style Painted Chest of Drawers. Two drawer c...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century Swedish chest of drawers embodies the timeless elegance of Gustavian design. Crafted from sturdy pine, this chest features clean lines and subtle detailing, with fl...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle circa 1840. We are pleased to offer this piece of traditional swedish furniture.  Made from solid heavy pine, likely to have been...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pair of Antique Scandinavian Pinewood Nightstands
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 19th Century, antique pair of Swedish Gustavian nightstands made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. Each of the detailed bed side tables are composed with tw...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Chests of Drawers Circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A classic pair of 19th-century Gustavian-style chests of drawers, circa 1880-1890, crafted from solid pine and featuring a distinctive broken-front design. These elegant pieces are p...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Painted Cabinet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A painted Swedish Gustavian armoire from the late 1700’s. This solid pine cabinet has its original light gray-blue paint finish that is worn in all the right places. The tall paneled...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted 3 Drawer Chest Bureau
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Petroleum Blue Painted Gustavian Style Chest of Drawers This classic Swedish style three drawer hand-painted chest has been constructed from solid wood with a hand-applied distresse...
Category

Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Gustavian furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Ephraim Stahl, Hendrix Allardyce, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, and Jonas Frisk. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $49,500 while the average work can sell for $4,473.

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