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Gustavian Daybeds

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
Large Gustavian 18th Century Painted Daybed
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An impressive and elongated Swedish Gustavian daybed from the 1790’s. The bed frame is all hand carved with bell flower motifs and guilloche patterned carvings under layers of light ...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Paint, Wood, Upholstery, Muslin

Large Gustavian 18th Century Painted Daybed
Large Gustavian 18th Century Painted Daybed

Large Gustavian 18th Century Painted Daybed

18th-19th Century White Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Daybed, Antique Sofa Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-grey, antique Swedish Gustavian daybed made of hand crafted painted Pinewood with two round pillows, in good condition. The sides of t...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Cotton, Pine, Linen, Damask

18th-19th Century White Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Daybed, Antique Sofa Bench
18th-19th Century White Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Daybed, Antique Sofa Bench

18th-19th Century White Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Daybed, Antique Sofa Bench

18th Century Gustavian Daybed
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Gustavian daybed is a timeless example of Swedish neoclassical design, inspired by the refined aesthetic of 18th-century France but adapted with a lighter, more understated eleg...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Wood

18th Century Gustavian Daybed
18th Century Gustavian Daybed

18th Century Gustavian Daybed

Early 20th Century Gustavian Style Painted Daybed
Located in New Orleans, LA
A Swedish painted daybed with brass accents in the Gustavian style.
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Gustavian Style Painted Daybed
Early 20th Century Gustavian Style Painted Daybed

Early 20th Century Gustavian Style Painted Daybed

Daybed Swedish Gustavian Style 100% Original paint
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Unique Swedish Gustavian style Daybed / Love Seat. The seating has been restored and covered in Muslin.
Category

1820s Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Wood

Daybed Swedish Gustavian Style 100% Original paint
Daybed Swedish Gustavian Style 100% Original paint

Daybed Swedish Gustavian Style 100% Original paint

Gustavian Sofa in Pink Linen
Located in Faversham, GB
A wonderful Swedish sofa in Gustavian style made of Scots Pine. The seat ends collapse, allowing the bench to fold down into a flatbed, which extends the length of the sofa and prov...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Linen, Upholstery, Pine

Gustavian Sofa in Pink Linen
Gustavian Sofa in Pink Linen

Gustavian Sofa in Pink Linen

Exceptional 18th Century Swedish Daybed
Located in New Orleans, LA
Highly decorative 18th century Swedish daybed with original patina.
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Wood

Exceptional 18th Century Swedish Daybed
Exceptional 18th Century Swedish Daybed

Exceptional 18th Century Swedish Daybed

18th Century White-Grey Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Sofa Bench, Antique Daybed
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A white-grey, antique Swedish Gustavian sofa bench, daybed with three large back pillows and two round pillows, made of hand carved Pinewo...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Pine, Linen

18th Century White-Grey Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Sofa Bench, Antique Daybed
18th Century White-Grey Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Sofa Bench, Antique Daybed

18th Century White-Grey Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Sofa Bench, Antique Daybed

A Gustavian Bench with Beautiful Plaster Caryatid Decoration on the back.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Gustavian Bench with Beautiful Plaster Caryatid Decoration on the back and hand carved all around.
Category

1790s Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Upholstery, Pine, Plaster

A Gustavian Bench with Beautiful Plaster Caryatid Decoration on the back.
A Gustavian Bench with Beautiful Plaster Caryatid Decoration on the back.

A Gustavian Bench with Beautiful Plaster Caryatid Decoration on the back.

Gustavian Paint Decorated Storage Bench, New Wool Shearling, Sweden, 19th C.
Located in Manhasset, NY
Gustavian paint decorated storage bench, new wool shearling, Sweden 19th Century Wonderful gustavian bench or daybed having a brand new white wool shearling/sheepskin upholstery ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Daybeds

Materials

Wool, Wood

Gustavian Paint Decorated Storage Bench, New Wool Shearling, Sweden, 19th C.
Gustavian Paint Decorated Storage Bench, New Wool Shearling, Sweden, 19th C.

Gustavian Paint Decorated Storage Bench, New Wool Shearling, Sweden, 19th C.

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Swedish Gustavian Settee Daybed

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19th c. Swedish Gustavian Style Sofa Bench in Original Patina
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19th c. Swedish Gustavian Style Sofa Bench in Original Patina

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18th c. Swedish Gustavian Daybed Sofa Bench with Griffons in Original Patina
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Daybed Sofa Bench with Griffons in Original Patina

18th c. Swedish Gustavian Daybed Sofa Bench with Griffons in Original Patina

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Located in New Orleans, LA
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Swedish Gustavian Daybed
Swedish Gustavian Daybed

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H 36 in W 94 in D 27 in

Gustavian daybeds for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian daybeds 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 daybeds created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian daybeds 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 daybeds differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,000 and tops out at $10,500 while the average work can sell for $8,250.

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