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.
Pair of Gustavian Pewter Candlesticks from the late 18th or early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful Pair of Gustavian Pewter Candlesticks from the late 18th or early 19th Century. Period Gustavian design. Wear consistent with age and use
Pewter
Gustavian Style Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
Patinated brass and brass details copied from the pre-electricity Gustavian period, featuring six faux candles hanging on three decorative brass chains,...
Brass
Swedish Gustavian candelabras made ca year 1800. Rare model.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare pair of Gustavian crystal candelabra. The urns are made of carrara marble with mountings of gilt bronze. The chiseling of the bronzes is of unusually high quality and it is ra...
Crystal, Marble
Pair of 18th Century Gustavian Bronze Candlesticks with Egyptian Female Figures
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Gustavian bronze candlesticks featuring stems in the form of a standing Egyptian woman with crossed arms. The candleholders are adorned with intricate ciselé work. Displays a...
Bronze
Elegant Pair of Swedish Gustavian Fire-Gilt Bronze Wall Appliques, 1780s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Fire-Gilt Bronze Wall Appliques, 1780s An exceptionally elegant and rare pair of Swedish Gustavian wall appliques, executed in finely chased fire-gilt bron...
Bronze
Candlesticks Gustavian Pair Swedish 18th Century Red Marble Dark Bronze Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Candlesticks Gustavian pair Swedish 18th century red marble dark bronze Sweden. A pair of candlesticks made during the early 19th century in Sweden. Base in red marble with women sha...
Porphyry, Bronze
Imperial Russian Crystal Cobalt Blue Glass and Gilt Bronze Girandoles Tsar Era
By Johann Zech
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of very rare exquisite Imperial Russian crystal girandoles, each with five scrolling candle branches set in a cobalt blue glass baluster vase mounted in gilt bronze, the centr...
Crystal, Marble, Bronze
$392Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Vintage Brass Gusum Candlesticks by Bernt Karlsson, Sweden, 1980
Located in New York, NY
A pair of solid brass candlesticks by Metallslöjden Gusum Bruk, Sweden. Designed by Bernt Karlsson. Dated 1978 and 1980.
Brass
$4,500 / set
Pair of Late Gustavian Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of late-Gustavian candlesticks made in Stockholm around 1800. The stems are made of glass columns with a porphyry-imitation paper on the inside. The fittings and light sockets...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Pair of Swedish Late Gustavian Brass Candlesticks, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Swedish Late Gustavian Brass Candlesticks, Early 19th Century A refined pair of Swedish late Gustavian brass candlesticks, dating from the early 19th century. Executed in so...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Pewter Candlesticks, Johan Fredrik Gellerstedt, 1833
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Pewter Candlesticks, Johan Fredrik Gellerstedt, 1833 An elegant pair of late Gustavian pewter candlesticks, crafted in Härnösand, Sweden, by the pewter ma...
Pewter
19th - 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Pair of Oval Gilded Wood Glass Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 19th Century, antique pair of Swedish Gustavian style oval shaped wall mirrors made of hand crafted gilded Pinewood, bronze with its original mirrored glass, in good condition. Each of the Scandinavian wall décor...
Metal, Bronze
Candlesticks Gustavian Swedish 18th Century Brass, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Candlesticks Gustavian Swedish 18th century 1790-1810 made in brass, Sweden. A pair of Gustavian candlesticks made in Sweden during the late part of 18th century and the Gustavian pe...
Brass
Candlesticks Pair of English Mahogany, 18th Century, England
Located in New York, NY
Candlesticks pair of English mahogany, 18th century, England. A pair of candlesticks made during the 18th century in England. Made from mahogany with candleholders in brass.
Mahogany
Gustavian Brass Candlesticks, Sweden 18th century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Gustavian Brass Candlesticks. Made in Sweden during the reign of Gustav III. The brass used in these candlesticks have high levels of copper, giving ...
Brass
A Pair of Late Gustavian Faux Porphyry Reverse Glass Candesticks, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of reverse glass faux porphyry candlesticks with brass mounts (lacking one tassel)
Glass
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pair of Pinewood Candle Holders - Antique Sticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Swedish pair of mid 19th Century Gustavian candle holders made of hand crafted Pinewood, in good condition. The sticks are patinated in...
Pine
$8,500 / set
Pair of 18th Century Gustavian Candelabras
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine pair of 18th century Gustavian three light candelabras. Gilded bronze and marble (Bleu Turquin) with a caryatid supporting three candle arms adorned with foliage, pedestal of ma...
Bronze
20th Century Gold Swedish Gustavian Similar Set of Eleven Brass Candle Holders
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, vintage Swedish Gustavian similar set of eleven candle holders made of hand crafted brass, in good condition. The Scandinavian candlesticks, stands are enhanced by derail cra...
Metal, Brass
19th Century White-Grey Scandinavian Set of Two Gustavian Pinewood Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique set of two Gustavian candle holders with palm décor foliage ornaments, in good condition. The hand carved Pinewood candle stick is patinated in ecru and grey and is accent...
Metal
Pair of 18th Century Swedish Candlesticks
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good pair of 18th Century Swedish baroque hand hammered brass candlesticks with removable drip pan over barleytwist shafts with central drip collar, standing on bulbous bases having ...
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Candleholders Late 1800th in Pewter
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish Gustavian candleholders. Made late 18th century in Pewter, signed N. Height ~ 16,5cm. Ribbed columns on a bell shaped postament, with loose light cuffs and charmingly patinat...
Pewter
$1,800 / set
Cobalt Blue Swedish Girandoles, A Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of Swedish Girandoles of Gustavian style, crafted with cobalt blue ovoid shafts resting on a white marble base. These elegant two-piece girandoles feature two brass candleholder...
Crystal, Marble, Brass
$3,800 / set
19th Century Late Gustavian Candlesticks
Located in Allerum, SE
Pair of early 19th century Swedish Late Gustavian gilt and dark patinated bronze candlesticks. Sweden ca 1810.
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Pair of Late Gustavian Carrara Marble Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of Swedish late Gustavian candleholders in white Carrara marble and fire-gilded bronze.
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Gray Marble Brass, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian neoclassical gray marble brass, Sweden. A pair of gorgeous white marble candlesticks made during the Gustavian period. Column shaped with polished bras...
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks. With intricate raised decoration in the form of geometric and foliate patterns. The middle of each candlestick is fluted and ...
Bronze
Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Wall Appliques, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Five Branch Appliques, late 19th century, with urn and ribbon finial and grapevine motif to the arms. 22" H x 13.5" W x 6.5" D. Provenance: From a...
Bronze
$6,500 / set
H 12 in W 13 in D 5 in
Pair of Regency Cut-Glass and Gilt-Metal Two Light Candelabras, circa 1815
Located in Incline Village, NV
Of British origin, circa 1815, and of Regency design, the bronze platform support, with foliate and flower head ornamented bracket feet, below a collar of leaves, support a central c...
Bronze
Pair of 18th Century French Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of bronze candlesticks has a lovely patination, giving them a glossy brown color. The highly contoured and curved bases are mirrored by the...
Metal, Bronze
$20,899 / set
H 28.35 in W 18.51 in D 13.78 in
Pair of Chinese Porcelain and French Chinoiserie Style Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of Chinese porcelain and French Chinoiserie style gilt bronze candelabra Chinese and French, 19th Century Height 72cm, width 47cm, depth 35cm This superb pair of candelabra...
Ormolu, Bronze
$17,372 / set
H 25.6 in Dm 12.21 in
Bronze Seven-Light Candelabra After Clodion Cast, Suse Frères French circa 1890
By Claude Michel Clodion, Susse Freres
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of gilt and patinated bronze seven-light candelabra, after a model by Clodion, Cast by Suse Frères. Stamped 'Susse Fres'. The candelabra are in the form of patinat...
Bronze
$453
H 11.75 in W 9.5 in D 4.25 in
Antique Single Ormolu Gilt Bronze Twin Light Wall Candle Sconce Applique 19th Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Fine Quality Single French Well Cast Heavy Gauge Gilt Bronze Two Arm Wall Candle Sconce Light of compact proportions, mid to late Nineteenth Centu...
Bronze, Ormolu
$37,500 / set
H 32 in W 11 in D 8.5 in
Important Pair of 1st Period French Empire Pat. & Dore Bronze 6-Light Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and important pair of antique French 1st period Empire patinated and two-tone matte and burnished doré bronze six-light candelabras. Each modeled with figures of Goddess D...
Bronze
Pair Antique French 19th Century Gilt Bronze Louis XV Style Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of antique French 19th century Louis XV style five light gilt bronze candelabra Beautiful antique French five light gilt bronze hand chiselled pair of Louis XV style can...
Bronze
Swedish Designer, Candelabra, Iron, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A iron candelabra designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1940s. Dramatic oxidation. Dimensions: 13” H x 7.5” diameter 3 Sockets Holds .8” diameter candles
Iron
Sunburst Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A French circa 1950s gilt metal sunburst light fixture with glass inset. Two lights. Measurements: 12" diameter.
$2,900 / set
H 11.42 in Dm 3.94 in
Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Female Figures Vestals Candlesticks
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
A beautiful French early 19th century Empire pair of ormolu and patinated bronze candlesticks with female figure decoration in the manner of Claude Galle: Each candlestick with a...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 9.06 in W 2.96 in D 2.96 in
Pair of Gustavian Candlesticks in Carrara Marble and Brass, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Gustavian Candlesticks in Carrara Marble and Brass, Late 18th Century An elegant pair of late Gustavian (Swedish Neoclassical) candlesticks, crafted in Carrara marble with ...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Sold
H 6.89 in W 2.96 in D 2.96 in
Pair of Gustavian Candlesticks in Brass and Carrara Marble, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Gustavian Candlesticks in Brass and Carrara Marble, Late 18th Century Elegant pair of Gustavian candlesticks from the 1790s, crafted in brass and fine Carrara marble. The c...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Large Gustavian Style Blue Painted Scalloped Wood Tray with Handles
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on this wood solid painted tray. We see this tray either on an ottoman or coffee table. Would also work well as a large bar tray in any formal or informal home.
Wood, Paint
Pair of Mid-Century Swedish Brass Wall Plates
Located in London, GB
Pair of mid-century Swedish brass wall plates. Wonderful pair of repoussé candle holders in excellent condition with light age-related wear. Height 28cm Width 17cm Depth 12cm
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Brass Candleholders
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good pair of Scandinavian, probably Swedish, brass candlestick holders of dish form with finger ring having pressed roundels and etched string decoration.
Brass
19th Century Portuguese Pair of Pinewood Candle Holders - Antique Sticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Portuguese pair of 19th Century candle stick holders with a simple Pinewood structure on a round circular base, in good c...
Metal
Sold
H 11.03 in W 4.53 in D 4.53 in
Pair of Gustavian Pewter Candlesticks with beautiful patina, early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of Gustavian Pewter Candlesticks with beautiful patina made by N.G. Nordstrand from Lund, Sweden. He was active between 1801-1817. The candlesticks show the period decor and d...
Pewter
Sold
H 1.78 in Dm 1.58 in
Charming Gustavian Miniature Candlestick of Pewt, Swedish Late 18th/Early 19th C
Located in Knivsta, SE
Charming Swedish Gustavian Miniature Candlestick of Pewter, Late 18th/Early 19th Century Sweden This charming piece is perfect for any table. The candlestick is from the Gustavian p...
Pewter
Sold
H 3.55 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
Small Pair of Gustavian Night Candlesticks from the, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A small and charming pair of Gustavian night Candlesticks from the late 18th Century. Made in Sweden in gilted bronze during the 1780-1790s. Wear consistent with age and use.
Gold Plate, Bronze
19th Century Swedish Similar Set of Seven Night Candles, Brass Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, antique Swedish Gustavian similar set of seven night candles made of hand crafted brass, in good condition. The Scandinavian candleholders...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 6.7 in W 3.35 in D 3.35 in
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Candlesticks with Beautiful Patina Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of Swedish Gustavian candlesticks with beautiful patina. Probably made in Stockholm during the 1780s-1790s. The candlesticks have minor marks, chips and discolorations (see...
Carrara Marble, Brass
An excellent pair of candlesticks in Pewter. Gustavian, dated 1799
Located in Knivsta, SE
A excellent pair of candlesticks in Pewter with a beautiful patina. Gustavian, marked R2 = the year 1799, with a neoclassical design. The candlesticks have marks and wear (see pictures) that all...
Pewter