Gustavian Decorative Boxes
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
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Charming small Gustavian Shaving Mirror in Mahogany – Sweden, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Gustavian Shaving Mirror in Mahogany – Sweden, Late 18th Century
Charming small shaving mirror in mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), made in Sweden during the late 18th century. Execut...
Category
1790s Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Boxes
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Mirror, Mahogany
Swedish White Painted Cutlery Tray
Located in Greenwich, CT
A 19th century Swedish wooden cutlery tray with a curved slotted central handle and divider between two compartments, one with a notch for long utensils. Retains old painted finish.
Category
1840s Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Boxes
Materials
Spruce
Late 18th century Scandinavian metal bound box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Late 18th century Scandinavian metal bound box circa 1790.
Rare baroque inspired strong box with 3 locks on the front. Quite likely to have been a box of some importance during it'...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
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Gustavian decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Gustavian decorative boxes 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, paint and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian decorative boxes 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,059 and tops out at $5,500 while the average work can sell for $2,102.