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Gustavian Clocks

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
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Continental Clock
Located in New York, NY
Swedish Pine Continental Clock with pendulum from the early 19th Century. This is a traditional floor clock that is commonly referred to as a Mora clock. It is made from pine wood, w...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Pine

Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Continental Clock
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Continental Clock

Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Continental Clock

Antique Mora Clock Swedish Early 1800s Blue Gold Star Motif
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Mora Clock Swedish Early 1800s Blue Gold Star Motif
Antique Mora Clock Swedish Early 1800s Blue Gold Star Motif

Antique Mora Clock Swedish Early 1800s Blue Gold Star Motif

Swedish Antique Mora Clock Grey White Gustavian Early 1800s Carved
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Swedish Antique Mora Clock Grey White Gustavian Early 1800s Carved
Swedish Antique Mora Clock Grey White Gustavian Early 1800s Carved

Swedish Antique Mora Clock Grey White Gustavian Early 1800s Carved

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Tall J. Svensson Svenstad A
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Tall J. Svensson Svenstad A
Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Tall J. Svensson Svenstad A

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Tall J. Svensson Svenstad A

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Folk Art Brown
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Folk Art Brown
Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Folk Art Brown

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Folk Art Brown

Swedish Antique Mora Clock Green Early 1800s 192cm
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Pine

Swedish Antique Mora Clock Green Early 1800s 192cm
Swedish Antique Mora Clock Green Early 1800s 192cm

Swedish Antique Mora Clock Green Early 1800s 192cm

Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Fryksdal 217cm Faux Wood Grain 1800s
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish mora clock from the 1800s in rare faux wood grain folk art finish finish and a superb detailed roman numeral face in good condition. Measures: 217 cm. The clock is l...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Fryksdal 217cm Faux Wood Grain 1800s
Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Fryksdal 217cm Faux Wood Grain 1800s

Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Fryksdal 217cm Faux Wood Grain 1800s

Early 20th Century Swedish Painted Grandfather Clock
Located in Houston, TX
The Early 20th Century Swedish Painted Grandfather Clock stands as a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship and timeless beauty of its era. Gilded and intricately carved around its...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Early 20th Century Swedish Painted Grandfather Clock
Early 20th Century Swedish Painted Grandfather Clock

Early 20th Century Swedish Painted Grandfather Clock

Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very decorative Swedish longcase clock from the Gustavian period painted in a cream white with giltwood decoration. The dial is signed by the St...
Category

1770s Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century
Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century

Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century

19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 19th century Swedish floor clock. This antique clock from Sweden is simple and unassuming with it's round-shaped head, minimally adorn with a curved top crest, an elongated neck mo...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Metal

19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments
19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments

19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments

Swedish Clock
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Swedish early 19th Century column clock with original painted decoration. This clock has a lovely elegant shape, with unusual scrolled decoration to the neck. It has been dry-scraped to its original paint that is rich in patina and graining. A unique and beautiful clock, that will have a powerful presence in any interior. This clock is not in working order. PLEASE NOTE: The clocks we sell are decorative and are not guaranteed to be in working order. If you require the clock to be in working order, we can recommend an antique clock...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Pine

Swedish Clock
Swedish Clock

Swedish Clock

Swedish Painted Tall Case Column Clock from the Late 18th Century
Located in Washington, DC
A Swedish painted tall case column clock from the late 18th century. There are two decorative brass clock hands. The face is secured behind a single hinged glass door. The top of the clock has a carved ionic column and carved dental molding...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Metal

Swedish Painted Tall Case Column Clock from the Late 18th Century
Swedish Painted Tall Case Column Clock from the Late 18th Century

Swedish Painted Tall Case Column Clock from the Late 18th Century

Swedish Painted Longcase Clock
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century painted pine tall clock by Mogens Peter Westh. Painted brass face. Clock face contains the designer's name and is dated 1879. Intricate details were created by a true cr...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Swedish Painted Longcase Clock
Swedish Painted Longcase Clock

Swedish Painted Longcase Clock

Original Blue Painted Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
Hand painted Swedish Mora grandfather clock with original soft blue painted finish distressed through years of use with pine wood revealed below. Note the gentle curves in the base a...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Glass, Pine, Paint

Original Blue Painted Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1800-20
Original Blue Painted Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1800-20

Original Blue Painted Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1800-20

Wood Mantle Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
Very ornate white washed wood mantle clock with gold details. The face is behind a functional glass door with latch. The top is crowned by an urn with a cascading laurel garland that...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Wood Mantle Clock
Wood Mantle Clock

Wood Mantle Clock

Antique Mora Clock Swedish White Gustavian Early 1800s Jacob Oberg
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Mora Clock Swedish White Gustavian Early 1800s Jacob Oberg
Antique Mora Clock Swedish White Gustavian Early 1800s Jacob Oberg

Antique Mora Clock Swedish White Gustavian Early 1800s Jacob Oberg

Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Pine

Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A
Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A

Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Burgundy and Gold
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Burgundy and Gold
Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Burgundy and Gold

Antique Mora Clock Swedish 1800s Antique Burgundy and Gold

Antique Mora Clock Swedish Gold Black Early 1800s Chinoiserie Painted Original
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Mora clock from early 1800s in probable original paint with a great decorative shape body and a good face with lots of detail and a very ornate hood. It has the most...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood

Antique Mora Clock Swedish Gold Black Early 1800s Chinoiserie Painted Original
Antique Mora Clock Swedish Gold Black Early 1800s Chinoiserie Painted Original

Antique Mora Clock Swedish Gold Black Early 1800s Chinoiserie Painted Original

Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780
Located in New York, NY
Unusual pair of Gustavian corner clock cabinets, origin: Mora, Sweden, circa 1780 Each cabinet with matching working, tall case clocks decorated with four fluted diamond patterns an...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780
Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780

Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780

Gustavian clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian clocks 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 clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, pine and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian clocks 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 clocks, popular names associated with this style include Henrik Beurling, Josua Lanner, and Mora Clocks. 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 clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,400 and tops out at $35,000 while the average work can sell for $3,000.

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