Skip to main content

Gustavian Decorative Bowls

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.

to
4
2
1
1
1
3,333
1,200
859
616
281
172
110
102
77
68
41
38
33
26
20
20
12
7
2
2
1
1
1
4
4
4
4
Height
to
Width
to
4
4
4
1
Style: Gustavian
Large Antique Swedish Rörstrand Porcelain Signed Hand Painted Decorative Tray
By Rörstrand
Located in Forney, TX
A rare monumental Swedish Rörstrand porcelain (established in 1726) heavy high quality decorative serving tray. Exquisitely hand-crafted in Sweden in the early 20th century, the dished and molded palatial rectangular shaped tray features exceptionally executed period Art Nouveau hand-painted polychrome decoration, adorned with neoclassical motif of florals, foliage, acanthus leaves, and urn with flowers. Signed, marked Rorstrand with three crowns to verso, dated 1913, and lower right impressed HD Rorstrand CO 1/2. Provenance / Acquisition: Hailing from the estate of a former supermodel and actress, Kathy Speirs-Puccio, who spared no expense in the decorating of her massive, curated to perfection Weston home. Kathy Speirs-Puccio, who throughout her acting and modeling career (she graced multiple magazine covers in the 1970s including Cosmopolitan. She collected, wore, and kept only the finest in designer fashion and accessories. Her passion for high design continued through until the end of her life. Acquired from the reputable auction house Blackrock Galleries...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

Large Antique Swedish Rörstrand Porcelain Signed Hand Painted Decorative Tray
Large Antique Swedish Rörstrand Porcelain Signed Hand Painted Decorative Tray

Large Antique Swedish Rörstrand Porcelain Signed Hand Painted Decorative Tray

Swedish Dugout Burl Bowl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine Swedish dugout root burl bowl with tab handle, with owner's initials, rune mark and dated 1700 on the underside, the whole with good dry untouched ...
Category

Early 1700s Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Wood

Swedish Dugout Burl Bowl
Swedish Dugout Burl Bowl

Swedish Dugout Burl Bowl

18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar
Located in Bozeman, MT
Rare 18th century clay mortar, ca 1790 Sweden.
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Clay

18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar
18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar

18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar

19th Century Swedish Painted Dugout Bowl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good 19th Century trencher, an oblong dugout bowl of rectangular form in original white paint.
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Birch

19th Century Swedish Painted Dugout Bowl
19th Century Swedish Painted Dugout Bowl

19th Century Swedish Painted Dugout Bowl

Related Items
Contemporary Tray
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary tray Measures: Diameter 30 x height 29 cm Plated metal coated with glossy Champagne finish From earth, one can only see the portion of th...
Category

2010s French Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Metal

Contemporary Tray
Contemporary Tray

Contemporary Tray

H 11.42 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Small French 18th-19th Century Alabaster Mortar
Located in Buisson, FR
Lovely and rare small alabaster mortar, France, circa 1750-1850. Weathered but good condition.
Category

19th Century French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Alabaster

Small French 18th-19th Century Alabaster Mortar
Small French 18th-19th Century Alabaster Mortar

Small French 18th-19th Century Alabaster Mortar

H 2.56 in W 4.53 in D 4.53 in
Marble Tray Marquina Color with Leather Straps, Large
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Marble trays with leather straps and brass bottom reinforcement. Leather tips on the legs to avoid scratching surfaces. Marble is a non-foliated m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Marble

Marble Tray Marquina Color with Leather Straps, Large
Marble Tray Marquina Color with Leather Straps, Large

Marble Tray Marquina Color with Leather Straps, Large

H 2.7 in W 26.2 in D 15.7 in
18th Century Large White Marble Mortar
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An 18th-century mortar made from hand-carved beautifully veined Carrara marble. Fashioned in the traditional style, with four shaped corners and a deep bowl, this would once have bee...
Category

18th Century French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Marble

18th Century Large White Marble Mortar
18th Century Large White Marble Mortar

18th Century Large White Marble Mortar

H 5.52 in Dm 11.03 in
French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful and rare black marble (Belgium blue stone) mortar, France, circa 1750-1850. Great eyecatcher. Weathered but good condition.
Category

18th Century French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Belgian Black Marble

French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar
French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar

French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar

H 5.32 in W 9.06 in D 9.06 in
French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful and rare black marble (Belgium blue stone) mortar, France, circa 1750-1850. Great eyecatcher. Weathered but good condition.
Category

18th Century French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Belgian Black Marble

French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar
French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar

French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar

H 6.89 in W 12.41 in D 12.41 in
Marble Tray, Bidasar Tone with Leather Straps, Large
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Bidasar Marble trays with leather straps and brass bottom reinforcement. Bidasar Marble Tray with an unfinished texture. Rain forest Indian marble, also known as Bidasar, is the fine...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Marble

Marble Tray, Bidasar Tone with Leather Straps, Large
Marble Tray, Bidasar Tone with Leather Straps, Large

Marble Tray, Bidasar Tone with Leather Straps, Large

H 1.57 in W 23.62 in D 15.78 in
Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Large Meissen Porcelain serving plate/tray with hand painted floral motives and rich gold decor. Marked on the bottom. Sword with two slashes.
Category

20th Century German Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray
Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray

Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray

H 1.58 in W 16.15 in D 16.15 in
French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful and rare black marble (Belgium blue stone) mortar, France, circa 1750-1850. Great eyecatcher. Weathered but good condition.
Category

18th Century French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Belgian Black Marble

French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar
French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar

French 18th-19th Century Black Marble Mortar

H 5.12 in W 9.26 in D 9.06 in
Marble Mortar from 18th Century
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This nice mortar is made of white marble. This is a French work from 18th Century
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Marble

Marble Mortar from 18th Century
Marble Mortar from 18th Century

Marble Mortar from 18th Century

H 4.34 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Large Meissen Porcelain serving plate/tray with hand painted floral motives and rich gold decor.
Category

20th Century German Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray
Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray

Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/Tray

H 1.58 in W 16.34 in D 16.34 in
18th Century French Marble Mortar
Located in Chicago, IL
An 18th-century French carved marble mortar, rich with history and softened by centuries of use, its surface worn smooth with a patina that only 250 years of culinary tradition could...
Category

18th Century French Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Marble

18th Century French Marble Mortar
18th Century French Marble Mortar

18th Century French Marble Mortar

H 8.5 in W 15 in D 15 in
Previously Available Items
Swedish Folk Art Burl Bowl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine early 19th century Swedish root burl bowl retaining original painted decoration and having several carved and branded owner’s initials on the underside, the whole with excellent...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Birch, Burl

Swedish Folk Art Burl Bowl
Swedish Folk Art Burl Bowl

Swedish Folk Art Burl Bowl

H 4 in W 9.25 in D 12 in
Large-Scale 19th Century Swedish Dough Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th century very large dough bowl with metal braces, Sweden. Beautiful, smooth worn patina.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Bowls

Materials

Pine

Large-Scale 19th Century Swedish Dough Bowl
Large-Scale 19th Century Swedish Dough Bowl

Large-Scale 19th Century Swedish Dough Bowl

H 8 in W 56 in D 20.5 in

Gustavian decorative bowls for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian decorative bowls for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative bowls created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, birch and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian decorative bowls made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 decorative bowls differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,456 and tops out at $3,900 while the average work can sell for $2,050.

Recently Viewed

View All