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Gustavian Children's 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
Antique Swedish Country Pine Rocking Bassinet
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce late 18th / early 19th century Gustavian Period country Swedish farmhouse pine bassinet / cradle with beautifully aged character and warm patina. Hand-crafted in Sweden, c...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Country Pine Rocking Bassinet
Antique Swedish Country Pine Rocking Bassinet

Antique Swedish Country Pine Rocking Bassinet

Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle circa 1840. We are pleased to offer this piece of traditional swedish furniture.  Made from solid heavy pine, likely to have been...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle
Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle

Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle

Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine rocking cradle
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine rocking cradle circa 1860. Traditional Swedish painted cradle in original paint.  Ideal for use as toy storage or the perfect decorative object...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine rocking cradle
Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine rocking cradle

Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine rocking cradle

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Original Painted Pine Baby Cradle Rocker, Sweden 1850-55
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19th Century Viennese Jacob & Josef Kohn Attributed Bentwood Cradle

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19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Children's Furniture

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Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Bedside Table with Diamond Motifs
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Bedside Table with Diamond Motifs

Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Bedside Table with Diamond Motifs

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Located in Los Angeles, CA
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Antique Swedish Bench
Antique Swedish Bench

Antique Swedish Bench

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Gustavian children's furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian children's furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 18th Century and Earlier, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage children's furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with pine, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian children's furniture 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 children's furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,900 and tops out at $2,900 while the average work can sell for $2,900.

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