Skip to main content

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.

to
159
921
577
1,449
31
25
198,678
114,204
43,742
33,580
16,096
12,275
10,812
10,755
9,956
8,932
7,273
6,853
6,476
6,418
6,141
5,895
4,944
3,809
331
786
332
56
100
144
21
12
10
16
20
35
44
17
6
5
2
1,370
529
527
269
265
1,405
1,290
1,243
42
33
1,505
1,492
1,495
7
2
2
2
2
Style: Gustavian
Antique Swedish Small Gustavian Side Table with a Drawer, Distressed Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique side table with a drawer in gustavian style. The table is small with a rectangular table top and a drawer in the apron. The legs are straight and tapered with flutes ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish WH Cabinet
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This antique painted cabinet from Sweden dates back to the 19th century. While its elegant arched crown and curved door decorations show influences from the French Rococo style, its ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Swedish Country Sideboard from the Gustavian Period with Blue Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish country sideboard from the gustavian period during the late 1700s. Made in northern Sweden with a classic, straight shape. Original unusual blue paint from the late 1...
Category

Late 18th 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 c. Painted Danish Cabinet
Located in Greenwich, CT
An impressive cabinet in original dry-scraped cream/grey paint, consisting of a wonderful overhanging baroque arched cornice on a two door cupboard with single adjustable shelf above...
Category

Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Swedish Country Table with Original Blue Paint and Hand-Carved Decor
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish country table from the late gustavian period around 1810. The table has original blue paint – blue is an unusual colour as the pigment was difficult and expensive to ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

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

Antique Swedish Chest of Drawers in Gustavian Style Made by Hand in Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish chest of drawers in gustavian style made around 1820. The chest is made by hand with a frame in solid pine. Four functional drawers with original locks, keys and hard...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

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

Large Antique Northern Swedish Gustavian Period Rustic Black Cabinet in Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Large antique Swedish cabinet from the gustavian period around year 1800. From northern Sweden made by hand in solid Swedish pine. The cabinet is made in two parts with a classic str...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Console Tables
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Console Tables, circa 1880–1900 Pair of Swedish console tables in classic Gustavian style. The tables feature black-painted tops with a profiled edg...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Gray Sideboard Buffet Console
Located in Round Top, TX
Swedish Gustavian gray painted pine sideboard or buffet console resting on tapered fee. Traditional diamonds accent the three drawers and three doors. Keys and locks still function o...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Elegant Demi lune Console Tables, Gustavian Style, Sweden
Located in Kastrup, DK
A refined pair of Demi lune console tables in the Gustavian style, crafted in Sweden around 1880–1900. The black-painted tabletops feature a moulded edge, while the base is finished ...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Pair of Swedish Rococo-Style Console Cabinets or Nightstands
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of Swedish Rococo-style console cabinets or nightstands, circa 1900. The top features a molded edge with a raised gallery at the back and partially along the sides. Each cabin...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Blue Chest of Three Drawers with Greek Key Design
Located in Round Top, TX
A decorative Gustavian style chest of drawers with canted fluted sides raised on tapered fluted feet. Three drawers decorated with "à La Grecque" or Greek key motif with two brass pu...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Black Corner Table
Located in Round Top, TX
Swedish Gustavian corner table with gently tapered legs and decorative skirt. Newer professionally applied layered antique black painted finish, slightly distressed to fit age and gr...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

Gustavian Period 1810s Swedish Gray Painted Console Table with Carved Garlands
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period console table from circa 1810 with light gray painted finish, carved garlands and diamond motifs, and tapered fluted legs. This Swedish Gustavian period c...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

19th Century Swedish White Gustavian Sideboard Buffet
Located in Round Top, TX
Gustavian pine sideboard or serving buffet with traditional decorative fluted diamond panels on cabinet doors and drawers. The newer, professionally applied antique white painted fin...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Secretary Cabinet, Late 18th/Early 19th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare and finely crafted two-part Gustavian secretary cabinet from Sweden, dating from the late 18th to early 19th century. This piece is characterized by its stately architectural ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak, Pine

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 Style 2 Door Wardrobe
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a very Unique 2 door Swedish Gustavian style wardrobe. it was just restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category

1920s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Small Elegant Swedish Antique Side Table from the Gustavian Period
Located in Kramfors, SE
Small elegant antique table from the gustavian period in Sweden circa 1790. The table has a rectangular table top and straight, tapered legs. Also note the unusual finishings on the ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Stone Top Black Small Chest of Three Drawers
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the original stone top that makes this small chest of three drawers a special find while the serpentine front adds intrigue as well. Please enlarge photos of the top to appreci...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Stone

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

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

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

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

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

Antique Swedish Console Table with Original Paint and Gustavian Carved Decor
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique console table in gustavian style dated September 24th 1852. Straight tapered legs, apron with period-typical gustavian carved leaves. Original thin paint which is slightly wo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style Pink Painted Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Wonderful hand painted textured Gustavian style chest of drawers. This commode has been constructed from solid wood with a hand-applied pink and white distressed finish with brass ri...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Arched Console Table
Located in Mckinney, TX
This Gustavian-period Swedish console table features a distinctive arched design that reflects the elegant yet understated style of the era. Crafted from solid wood, the table has it...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

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

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 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

Swedish Gustavian Painted Banquette-Trundle
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A Swedish 18th century Gustavian banquette with its original hand-scraped painted finish. The solidly constructed frame makes for a sheltering sofa as well, with a removable bench se...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

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

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 Tall Case Closk
Located in Mckinney, TX
An exquisite Swedish tall case clock boasting a rounded crown and clean lines, complemented by a dry-scraped finish. The clock retains its original blue-green and alabaster paint wit...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Iron

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 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

19th century Swedish birch cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish birch cupboard circa 1860. We are pleased to offer this beautifully Swedish piece of craftsmanship, making it a practical antique for everyday use. Fantastic c...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Birch, Pine

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

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

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Sofa with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian sofa from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden. Scraped by hand to its original color. The sofa has some retouches. The kitchen sofa...
Category

1820s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Long Black Painted Upholstered Bench by Chelsea Textiles
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Hand-carved and hand-painted, this 18th Century Gustavian inspired bench from Chelsea Textile features a linen seat on rosette medallion corners, atop tapered fluted legs. The seat h...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Paint, Linen

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

Antique Swedish Gustavian Period Elegant Desk Made by Hand in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique elegant desk from the gustavian period during the late 1700s. Frame in solid pine. The paint has distress and patina. Large drawer. Unusual thin and elegant legs with...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

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

Antique Swedish Round Drop-Leaf Dining Table from the Gustavian Period
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique dining table from the gustavian period around 1820. The table is made by hand in solid Swedish pine. Rectangular leg-frame with carved leaves on the two longer sides....
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Rare Low and Wide Northern Swedish Sideboard from the Gustavian Period
Located in Kramfors, SE
Wide Swedish antique sideboard. This sideboard is a country house furniture from the gustavian period made in northern Sweden around 1790. The proportions and craftsmanship makes it ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

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.

Recently Viewed

View All