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.
19th C. Rococo Gustavian Ebonized and Partial Gilt Upholstered ArmChairs, Pair
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Rococo Gustavian / Swedish Arm Chairs for him and her. Light greenish. Measures 21"W x 22"D x 32H. Seat height is 17" and arm height is 23" and 22". Seat interior width 17"...
Upholstery, Hardwood, Giltwood
Pair of Fine Gustavian Style Paint Decorated Arm Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A particularly fine pair of Gustavian style armchairs. A pair of custom upholstered arm chairs with intentionally distressed paint decorated frames in bluish taupe. The carved palmet...
Wood
Mid-Century Desgn Safari Chair by Hyllinge Møbler Denmark, 1970’s
Located in Delft, NL
Mid-century desgn safari chair by Hyllinge Møbler Denmark, 1970’s.
Canvas, Wood
$16,500 / set
Pair Gustavian Style Linen Lounge Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Gustavian style linen lounge chairs. It has a painted wood frame.
Linen, Wood
19th Century Irish Mahogany Library Armchair
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine early 19th century mahogany framed library armchair, the curved top-rail above button back upholstered in leather, with raised padded arm rests and down scrolled arms whi...
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Pair of Round-back Upholstered Armchairs
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century pair of round-back upholstered armchairs. Dates from the transition period between square William IV lolling chairs and curvilinear Victorian; the carved embellishment t...
Mahogany
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Open Arm Walnut Lounge Chairs
Located in Wilmington, DE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern walnut open arm lounge chairs Offered is a beautifully pair of original lounge chairs by Cintique. They are all original and feature the original green ...
Walnut
$596Sale Price / set|57% Off
H 36 in W 28.5 in D 25.25 in
Midcentury Walnut Danish Style Lounge Chairs, a Pair
Located in Esperance, NY
For sale is this great pair of vintage lounge chairs that are made out of walnut.
Walnut
Pair of Art Deco Style Lounge Chairs
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair of Art Deco style lounge chairs Burl framed lounge chairs upholstered in a rich eggplant fabric. Measures: 31.25 Width x 29.5 Depth...
Burl
Pair of Gainsborough Style Lounge Chairs
Located in Vosselaar, BE
As we found a small but amazing batch of root walnut we decided to make a pair of chairs suitable for this rare woodspecies. Our choice of style was a classic high quality Gainsborou...
Walnut
Pair Of 19th C. Neoclassical French Carved Walnut Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Labeled Dugard underneath the seats. With carved gadrooned pediment crest rails with center scrolled crests over burled upper backs. The curved arms with carved leafy backs and ribbe...
Fabric, Walnut
Danish 1960's Lowback Easy Lounge Chair by Ryesberg Mobler
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic 1960s easy chair by Ryesberg Mobler, Denmark, possibly designed by Kurt Østervig. Charming clean design with a strong statement for a little chair. Original wool showing som...
Wool, Teak
$4,125Sale Price|25% Off
H 36 in W 32 in D 30 in
Pair of Louis XV-Style Painted and Carved Bergere Chairs, 20th Century
Located in Houston, TX
Handsome and comfortable pair of bergere Louis XV-Style chairs with floral and foliate Carving at the crest. Painted in creamy gold hue. The back is gracefully curved and extends ...
Hardwood
Antique 19th C Gothic Revival Carved Armchair
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique 19th C Gothic Revival Carved Armchair. Mahogany tone frame with Neo Gothic design. Hand Carved and Superb Condition Antique Gothic Reviva...
Wood
Pair, 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Gray Painted Armchairs
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, Swedish gray painted armchairs with carved details along edges, top of back and skirt. The gray painted finish has been lightly distressed, revealing the natural pine wood belo...
Linen, Pine, Paint
Pair, 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Located in Round Top, TX
This graceful pair of Swedish Gustavian arm chairs have a wonderfully warm patina thanks to the soft, scraped finish revealing much of the natural pine wood below. Note the residual ...
Pine
Sold
H 35 in W 23.5 in D 25.25 in
Maison Jansen, Swedish Louis XVI Style, Wood, Fabric, Lounge Chairs, 1940s
Located in Stamford, CT
Maison Jansen, Gustavian, Louis XVI Style, Lounge Chairs, Grey Painted Wood, Fabric, 1940s A pair of Gustavian Louis XVI lounge chairs from 20th century France. The Directoire style...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 23.63 in
Swedish Tan / Brown Nailed Leather Lounge Chair By Otto Schulz For Boet 1940s
By Boet, Otto Schulz
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
This 1940s Swedish Tan/Brown Nailed Leather Lounge Chair by Otto Schulz for Boet is a remarkable piece of early Scandinavian design. The chair features rich tan/brown leather upholst...
Metal
Sold
H 33 in W 24.5 in D 24 in
19th c. Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Barrel Back Armchairs with Lion Heads
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish antique barrel back armchairs in the Gustavian style, circa 1880. These stunning chairs have shaped barrel backs with li...
Linen, Wood, Paint
19th c. Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Barrel Back Armchairs
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish antique armchairs from the Gustavian period, circa 1810. These stunning chairs have shaped barrel backs. The frame features...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Barrel Back Armchairs
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish chairs with classic sulla, barrel backs in the Gustavian style with wood carved decor, four splayed legs, and newly upholstered in linen. We offer expedited, full...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 29.94 in W 23.63 in D 20.07 in
Pair of 19th C. Swedish Gustavian Sulla Chairs in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish chairs with unique sulla barrel backs. Stunning chairs from the Gustavian period wearing original paint and newly upholstered in antique linen with nail head trim. ...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 33.83 in W 24.94 in D 24.94 in
19th c. Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Barrel Back Armchairs with Lion Heads
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish late Gustavian pair of antique barrel back armchairs. These stunning chairs have shaped barrel backs with lion head carvings. T...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 29.94 in W 24 in D 22.82 in
19th C. Swedish Gustavian Period Upholstered and Painted Klismos Chair
Located in Wichita, KS
An early 19th century Klismos chair from the Gustavian period, newly upholstered in linen fabric. Made in Lindome, Sweden. The Klismos design orig...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 39.75 in W 24 in D 23.25 in
18th C. Swedish Gustavian Period Upholstered Armchair in Original Patina
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish armchair from the Gustavian period in Stockholm quality, hand-scraped to the original paint and newly upholstered in linen. Exquisitely carved floral and leaf motif on the back and seat frame. Beautifully tapered and fluted legs with rosettes on the corner posts. The arm height is 25.75". We offer expedited, fully-insured, custom packaged / crated, global shipping, including delivery to the door service, delivery to a receiver service, and white glove service, which includes inside setup with debris removal. Please inquire for more information. The Gustavian style, named after King Gustav III...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 38.19 in W 24.19 in D 23.25 in
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Upholstered Armchair in Original Patina
Located in Wichita, KS
An 18th c. Swedish Stockholm quality armchair from the Gustavian period, hand scraped to the original paint and newly upholstered in linen fabric. Beautiful guilloché carved detail with rosettes on the corner posts raised on tapered and fluted round legs. We offer expedited, fully-insured, custom packaged / crated, global shipping, including delivery to the door service, delivery to a receiver service, and white glove service, which includes inside setup with debris removal. Please inquire for more information. The Gustavian style, named after King Gustav III...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 30.88 in W 23 in D 22.88 in
Pair of 18th C. Swedish Gustavian Period Original Paint Sulla Chairs
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Swedish chairs with classic sulla barrel backs from the Gustavian period wearing original paint and newly upholstered in linen. Beautifully carved bell flowers around the b...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 35.44 in W 20.88 in D 20.07 in
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Laughing Chair in Original Patina
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare 18th c. Swedish 'Laughing' Chair from the Gustavian period in original patina, newly upholstered. Named a laughing chair, because the chair back resembles a laughing mouth. Th...
Wood, Paint