Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
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
Pair of Gustavian Sconces
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine pair of North European, probably Swedish, neoclassical sconces with gilt bronze and brass rings, the lower fluted ring with putto playing musical instruments, the whole strung w...
Category
1860s Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass, Bronze
$3,120 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Mirrored Wall Sconces Swedish Gustavian 18th Century Signed Gilded Sweden, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of mirrored wall sconces made during the early part of the Gustavian period 1775-1790. Made and signed by frame maker Johan Martin ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wood
Two Light Swedish Gustavian Sconces in Crystal & Bronze, A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Swedish Gustavian (neo-classical) two light sconces. The frames are bronze hung generously with faceted crystal drops. There are six arms above and below with faceted crystal...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair of Antique Gustavian Wall Appliques, Sweden 1820-30
Located in Belmont, MA
Discover the timeless elegance of a pair of antique Swedish Gustavian Glass Appliques, meticulously crafted from handcrafted brass and adorned with prism glass drops. These Scandinav...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Pair of Swedish sconces 19th c
Located in PARIS, FR
Pair of late Gustavian Swedish sconces in brass and glass
2 lights not wired
Category
1880s Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
$4,586 / set
Pair of Scandinavian Cut Glass and Crystal Sconces
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of 20th century glass and crystal sconces in the Gustavian Style.
Dimensions: 19" wide x 26" high x 11 1/4" deep.
Category
20th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal, Brass
$3,375 Sale Price / set
50% Off
19thc Gustavian Cut Cascading Crystal Wall Sconce
Located in Opa Locka, FL
19thc Gustavian Bronze Cut Crystal Cascading Waterfall Form Wall Sconce. This sconce is in its original unelectrified state.
Category
1850s Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
$840 Sale Price
20% Off
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Pair of Gilt Bronze and Crystal Two Light Sconces by Sterling Bronze Co. N.Y
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine pair of sconces by The Sterling Bronze Co. have there original finish and prisms and are newly wired.
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Early 20th Century American Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
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Pair of Early 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Giltwood Sconce Mirrors
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Pair of Bagues Style Rock Crystal Two-Light Sconces
Located in Cypress, CA
Pair of Bagues style hand-carved and hand polished rock crystal and Smokey quartz mounted on 23-karat gold leaf hand-forged wrought iron two-light sconces. (Z)
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Pair of E. F. Caldwell Silvered Bronze Two-Light Georgian Style Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of signed Caldwell sconces feature Classical motifs including foliate swags, and acanthus leaves.
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$4,600 / set
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Vico Magistretti, Mania, A Pair of Wall Appliques, Artemide, 1964
Located in Paris, FR
Vico Magistretti (1920-2006)
Mania
A pair of white glass wall appliques, each made of two superimposed opaline glass shades of different size, mounted on a round white metal frame....
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1960s Italian Vintage Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
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Pair of 19th C. Italian 5-Light Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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A dramatic and sculptural pair of wall sconces, each crafted from richly patinated and hand-carved wood fragments with traces of...
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Pair of Wall Lamps, Sweden, 1950s
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Stockholm, SE
Set of 2 lacquered metal wall lamps with brass details, produced in Sweden, 1950s.
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass, Metal
Pair of Swedish Wall Lamps, 1960s
By ASEA
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of Swedish Modern brass and glass wall lamps, 1960s.
Good condition with minor signs of usage and patina.
Height: 19 cm
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1960s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
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Pair of Arbus Sconces, 4 pairs available
By André Arbus
Located in Miami, FL
Three pairs of Andre Arbus wall sconces. Bronze back plate and painted bronze hand. Nice and original old patina.
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Pair 19th Century Italian Sconces
Located in New Orleans, LA
Mirrored Two Light Sconces
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Pair of Swedish Wall Lights
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of Swedish mid-20th century wall lights. Manufactured by Falkenbergs Belysning. Clear textured glass, copper and brass.
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1960s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
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Pair of Giltwood and Mirror Sconces, 19th C. with 3 Nozzles Each
Located in Houston, TX
Beautifully carved giltwood sconces in scrolling design each supporting
Arms for three candles. Mirrored back.
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Late 19th Century French Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Previously Available Items
Pair of Gustavian Carved White Lyre Shaped Swedish Sconces
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Gustavian white painted lyre form candle sconces, late 20th century, carved composition with painted and gilt finish, applied metal arms, three light form, the lyre ends term...
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20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
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Pair of Swedish Gustavian Gilt Wood Wall Sconces
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Swedish Gustavian double-arm sconces.
Carved giltwood. Lyre-shaped top with griffin heads. At the bottom vine leaves and grape clusters.
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18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
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Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Glass Candleholder Wall Sconces
Located in London, GB
Pair of 18th century Swedish Gustavian painted glass candleholder wall sconces.
Originate from King Gustav III in the late 1700s who loved art and was sadly assassinated.
The candl...
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18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
H 11.82 in W 5.12 in D 1.58 in
Pair of Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Brass Cut-Glass Wall Lights/Sconces
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Swedish 19th century Gustavian style brass cut-glass wall lights/sconces
Brass frame with a back plate appearing as the central stem issuing four crescent shaped rings, th...
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1860s Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
H 19.69 in W 9.85 in D 5.52 in
19th Century Swedish Pair of Crystal Wall Appliqués
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Swedish pair of wall appliqués with a brass frame, crystal prism and two candle lights in good condition. Wear consistent with age and ...
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Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Brass
Sconces, Probably Scandinavia, Late 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Wall sconces with bronze ram’s heads and glass prisms.
For the electrification we assume no liability and no warranty.
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Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
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Pair of Late 18th Century Gilt Italian Candelabras / Table Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of late 18th century five light gilt Italian candelabras. These are very early and well constructed out of pine. They were masterfully converted to electricity in the 20th centu...
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Pair of Mid-Century Swedish White Painted and Parcel-Gilt Electrified Sconces
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This lovely and delicate pair of Swedish white painted and parcel-gilt electrified sconces have a lantern form with three candle arms joined by a gilt metal juniper swag, circa 1950.
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Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wall Lights and Sconces
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Pair of Swedish Gilt Bronze and Crystal Wall Lights, Late 18th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
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Gustavian wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Gustavian wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage wall lights and sconces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,050 and tops out at $17,000 while the average work can sell for $4,210.