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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
18th Century Gustavian Mora Clock Bureau
Located in Mckinney, TX
A rare example of multifunctional Swedish design, this sekretär med ur (secretary with clock) combines the two most important furnishings in an 18th-century household: the Mora clock...
Category

Late 17th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Pine Bench - Antique Daybed Attributed to Lindome
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 18th Century, antique freestanding Swedish Gustavian daybed attributed to Lindome school, in good condition. This Scandinavian sofa bench is hand crafted from solid Pinewood a...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Pine

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretary in Blue Painted Pine
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary crafted in pine, finished in a charming blue tone with an elegant patina. The piece is composed of two sections with refined detailing throughout. The upper cabi...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Danish Gustavian Chest of Drawers, 1803
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish Gustavian chest of drawers from 1803, crafted in black-painted wood with original brass fittings and locks. Profiled top above a carved dentil frieze. The front has five drawe...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique 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 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

Antique 1904 Swedish Large Chocolate Tin
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming antique 1904 Swedish large dome top trunk shaped chocolate tin would add a beautiful Scandinavian accent to most anywhere in your house. The exterior is a stunning turquoi...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Tin

Danish Gustavian Blue Painted Two-Part Pine Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
A beautiful two-part Gustavian display cabinet, crafted in pine and painted in an elegant blue tone with a light grey interior. The upper section features a moulded cornice and two ...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique 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

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Daybed - Antique Scandinavian Sofa Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian pull-out daybed made from hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. This freestanding Scandinavian wood bench...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Linen, Upholstery, Pine

Rare 18th Century Danish Gustavian 'Wellington' Chest of Drawers in Black-Painte
Located in Kastrup, DK
A distinctive and rare model of a Gustavian 'Wellington' chest, elegantly black-painted and displaying a beautifully aged patina. It features a finely profiled top, eight drawers wi...
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

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

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

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

Set of 8 - Ralph Lauren Style Barley Twist Leather Chairs
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Fantastic set of eight dining chairs with oak barley twist frame and tastefully aged brown leather seat and back cushions. This is a high-quality chair that combines traditional and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Leather

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

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

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

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 Period Buffet in Original Yellow Paint, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare Swedish Gustavian period buffet, late 18th century, retaining its original yellow-painted surface with beautifully aged patina. The warm ochre tone, scraped back to its authen...
Category

Early 19th 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

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

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 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

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

A period gustavian wall cabinet with glossed doors scraped to original paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
An authentic Gustavian period wall cabinet from Sweden, late 18th century, retaining its remarkable original surface and timeworn patina. The cabinet features a simple rectangular form with two glazed doors, each framed with wooden mullions that divide the glass into panels, creating a refined balance of proportion and symmetry. The paint has been carefully scraped back to its original layers both inside and out, revealing a soft, warm ochre tone with subtle variations that speak to centuries of age and use. The interior provides practical storage while maintaining the cabinet’s understated neoclassical elegance, typical of the Gustavian era. With its versatile scale, this piece may be mounted on a wall or used as a countertop cabinet...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

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

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

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

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

Pair of Period Gustavian Chairs in Original Paint, Sweden, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming pair of Swedish Gustavian side chairs from the late 18th century, each scraped back to reveal traces of their original soft grayish-white paint, now beautifully timeworn a...
Category

19th 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

Antique Genuine Swedish Gustavian Period Sideboard in Original Condition
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique sideboard from the gustavian period. The sideboard is a genuine antique from around 1820 made by hand in solid pine in northern Sweden. Classic gustavian straight sha...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish 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

French 19th Century Painted Bibliotheque / Armoire
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century bibliotheque converted to an armoire with three-dimensional, geometric details and original paint in soft patina. Dentil molding in two scales lifts the narrow ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

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

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

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

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

Antique Northern Swedish Gustavian Period Handmade Rustic Pine Sideboard
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish rustic sideboard from the gustavian period, made around 1810. The sideboard is made in northern Sweden by hand from solid pine. It has a straight shape with two doors...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pine Living Room Cabinet - Scandinavian Cupboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, white-grey antique Swedish Gustavian living room cabinet made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The upper part of the Scandinavian buffet is...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

19th Century Scandinavian Faux Marble Wooden Pedestal
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large 19th Century Gustavian pedestal with original faux marbled paint and patina. The stately pedestal is a wonderful addition to a hallway, foyer, or anywhere you need to display a...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

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

20th Century Rustic Painted Cabinet with Distressed White Finish
Located in Trenton, NJ
This 19th century rustic two-door cabinet embodies the enduring charm of country house furniture. Measuring 51” wide, 20.5” deep, and 41” high, it is both practical and full of chara...
Category

20th Century Unknown Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

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

18th Century Blue Painted Gustavian Sideboard, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A custom-made Swedish blue and grey painted Gustavian antique cupboard, circa 1780-1820. The clean and useful interior has three drawers that were used for cutlery tools. This Scandi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Secretary - Antique Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretary made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is composed with a...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

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 early 19th century Gustavian painted sofa
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish early 19th century Gustavian painted sofa circa 1810. Stunning sofa in original paint.  This would have been a day bed with a pull out section to the front, but it has since...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

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

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

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

19th Century Swedish Blue Oak Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary is a striking statement piece with panel doors, dramatic bonnet, and traditional lower three large drawers. The entire secretary has been given a professional cust...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish 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

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

Pair of Swedish Commodes
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pair of 19th Century Swedish painted and decorated pine commodes. 1890
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

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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