Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
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
Returnable Items Only
Set of Four Restoration Hardware Swedish Gustavian Style Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Weathered set of four deconstructed Swedish Gustavian style dining chairs featuring muslin fabric upholstery. The unfinished hardwood frames are very sturdy and strong crafted with a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Muslin, Wood
Fine Set of Six 18th Century Gustavian Chairs
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Fine set of six Swedish 18th century Gustavian chairs in their original colour. ca 1790 Sweden.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
19th c. Set of Six Swedish Gustavian Period Chairs in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A set of six Swedish chairs from the Gustavian period in original paint, newly upholstered in antique linen. These beautiful chairs have curved splat backs, inspired by antique Roman...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Linen, Wood, Paint
19th Century Set of Six Swedish Gustavian Period Chairs in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A set of six Swedish chairs from the Gustavian period in original ivory / taupe / gray paint, newly upholstered in antique linen. These beautiful chairs have curved splat backs, insp...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Set of Six Swedish Gustavian Period Dining Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Striking set of six 18th century Gustavian dining chairs with original paint and silk fabric seat cushions.
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Dining Chairs Swedish Set of Four Gustavian Original Paint Green Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A set of four side chairs made during the Gustavian period in Sweden 1790-1810. The original paint in a grayish green which has a stunning patina. Rounded legs with channeled details.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Set 10 Genuine Swedish Gustavian Gilded Gray Paint Decorated Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic set of 10 gray paint decorated and gilded Swedish or Gustavian dining chairs. they are authentic Swedish chairs and have gorgeous coloration and fine gilded detai...
Category
1940s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Set of 6 Circa 1800s Swedish Painted Oak Provincial Gustavian Dining Chairs
Located in London, GB
A set of 6 Gustavian dining chairs of wonderful quality with rounded backs, open work, and cut decoration. The seats are removable and upholstered in woven horsetail hair.
The Oak ...
Category
18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Oak
Set of Six Gustavian Period Painted Dining Chairs, 19th c. Swedish
Located in Wichita, KS
A matched set of 5 Swedish Gustavian period painted dining chairs from the 19th century, newly upholstered in linen with carved and pierced ladder backs and slip seats. This is an exquisite set of chairs.
The Gustavian style, named after King Gustav III...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Linen, Wood, Paint
Pair of Swedish Neoclassical Gustavian Style Painted Hall Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous pair of Swedish hall chairs or dining chairs made in the 18th century neoclassical Gustavian taste. The beech frames feature an intentional...
Category
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Linen, Beech
Swedish Gustavian Bellman White Dining Chairs, Set of Six, Late 19th Century
Located in LONDON, GB
Set of six late 19th century antique Swedish Gustavian Bellman dining chairs with webbed seats and lovely brass style detailing on backrest and at the top of the pyramid legs. Very h...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Louis XVI Gustavian Style Painted Dining Armchairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming set of four French dining armchairs made in the grand Louis XVI taste. Crafted from beech and featuring a Swedish Gustavian style white painted finish with a desirable aged,...
Category
20th Century French Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Beech, Fabric
Swedish Set of 5 Gustavian Dining Chairs
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A set of five Gustavian style dining chairs, circa 1810, with fantastic potential in any space. The curved back rests feature reeding details on the back and seem suspended by turned...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Swedish Gustavian Axet Dining Chairs Grey Green Set of 4, 20th Century
Located in LONDON, GB
Unusual early second half of the 20th century set of 4 Gustavian axet dining chairs in distressed paint finish with wheatsheaf motifs.
Lovely detail in the fluted legs and rosette...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Birch
Gustavian Style Dining Chairs
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Swedish Neo-Classic Gustavian style dining chair, with a chalky white painted finish, carved upholstered top rail about turned acanthus...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Eight Queen Anne Style Pale Grey Lime Washed Dining Chairs
Located in Essex, MA
A very fine set of eight Swedish-style grey lime-washed dining chairs in the Queen Anne style with pierced splat backs, carved and shaped seat rail, refined cabriole legs, and H-stre...
Category
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Rare Pair of 19th Century Gustavian Chairs
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Rare and fine pair of early 19th century Gustavian chairs in Chinese taste signed by master chair maker Ephraim Sthal (1767-1820) Suppli...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Pine
Six Swedish Gustavian Style 1850s Painted Wood Side Chairs with Carved Rosettes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of six Swedish Gustavian style painted wood stick back side chairs from the mid 19th century, with tapered legs, carved rosettes and used...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Gustavian Leksand Swedish Dining Chairs Pair in Gilt, 20th Century
Located in LONDON, GB
Pair of Swedish Gustavian dining chairs in the Classic Leksand style with the distinctive fluted legs and rosette detailing.
Unusually for Leksands which are a more country style,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Birch
Pair of Elegant Gustavian Chairs in Original Paint, circa 1780
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Fine pair of Gustavian dining chairs, retaining their original paint.
Category
18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
13 Spindle Back White Painted Decorated Gustavian Side or Dining Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 9 white distressed paint decorated and gilt gold Gustavian Style side chairs. Each seat with new upholstery and tacks. Price is for one chair onl...
Category
Early 20th Century Argentine Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Slat Back Dining Chairs from circa 1790
Located in Houston, TX
Lovely set of six Swedish period Gustavian chairs with original scraped blue paint and newly upholstered vintage linen seats.
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Set of Six Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Dining Chairs
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An elegant set of six Swedish Gustavian dining chairs from the neoclassical period painted in cream white and grey, with leaf tip carvings overall. The front round tapering legs with...
Category
1790s Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Gustavian Chairs, Sweden beginning of 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite set of four Gustavian vintage chairs, Sweden around 1810. Finely carved, cream painted with gold details. Shimmering red silk fabric. In vi...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Four Vintage Louis XVI Style Dining Chairs
Located in Sheffield, MA
The four classic Louis XVI style dining chairs painted gold have fluted legs topped by squared rosettes, cane backs inset in ribbed frame...
Category
20th Century American Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Hemp, Wood
Set of Six Gustavian Chairs, Sweden, 1830
Located in Belmont, MA
A set of six Gustavian chairs, Sweden, 1830, birch veneer.
The chairs are in good original condition.
The chairs will be shipped from Germany. Th...
Category
1830s Scandinavian Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Birch
Set of 4 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs. 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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Oak
Set of Eight Swedish Dining Room Chairs w/ Belgium Linen Upholstery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of eight Swedish dining chairs in a natural wood finish. The chairs stand on four tapered legs. They are newly upholstered in ...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood, Linen
Matched Set of Six Painted Gustavian Dining Chairs, 2 Armchairs and 4 Chairs
Located in Washington, DC
A matched set of early 19th century painted and hand carved Gustavian dining chairs.
Two arm chairs and four chairs. The four chairs have drop in upholstered seats.
The chairs are hand carved all around the back and seats and arms. The four arms chairs...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Antique Limed Oak Gustavian Style Urn Back Carver or Armchair
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
An elegant Gustavian style carver or armchair
A lovely urn shaped splat and unadorned cabriole leg
It has been recently limed to enhance the beautiful grain in the wood.
Th...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Burlap, Oak
Pair of Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Chairs, English, C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A pair of English limed oak chairs.
Typical Gustavian style, the chairs have delightful urn back splats, unadorned cabriole or Queen Anne legs and...
Category
Early 20th Century English Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Oak
Antique Limed Oak Gustavian Style Urn Back Carver or Armchair
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
An elegant Gustavian style carver or armchair
A lovely urn shaped splat, cabriole leg and scroll detail to the top rail
It has been recently limed to enhance the beautiful grai...
Category
Early 20th Century English Gustavian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Burlap, Oak
Gustavian dining room chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Gustavian dining room chairs 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 dining room chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian dining room chairs 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 dining room chairs, popular names associated with this style include and Ephraim Stahl. 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 dining room chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $295 and tops out at $20,968 while the average work can sell for $4,900.
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