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.
Swedish Gustavian Loveseat Sofa
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian loveseat sofa. it has been restored and repainted with milk paints "Oyster White" All new cushion and Muslin added.
Birch
Swedish Gustavian Style Grey Painted Double Chair-Back Settee with Carved Shell
Located in Essex, MA
A wonderfully characterful Swedish Gustavian style double chair-back settee or canapé, combining the robust carved tradition of 18th century Scandinavian provincial furniture with an...
Wood
Gustavian Settee in Pale Grey with Linen Upholstery
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Gustavian settee crafted from beech and painted in pale grey, with a beautiful age-related patina revealing the warm tone of the wood in several areas. The settee is decorat...
Fabric, Beech
Danish 1940's Loveseat or Small Sofa in Blue Wool
By Viggo Boesen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Charming Danish 1940's loveseat. From the era of the "banana" sofas but with a more angular shape. Very plush and voluptuous. Sturdy and strong and very comfortable with coil springs...
Wool, Beech
Lovely Petite Hollywood Regency Tufted Loveseat Sofa
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Lovely petite Hollywood Regency tufted loveseat with a down filled lose seat cushion. This piece will definitely need to be re-upholstered but that's what yo...
Upholstery, Wood
Danish 1950s Banana Form Curved Sofa or Loveseat
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Viggo Boesen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful and very elegant Danish 1950s curved two-seat sofa raised on a beech frame and legs. These type of sofas was manufactured from the 30's and up through the early 50's. The 5...
Wool, Beech
Danish Banana Form Curved Sofa or Loveseat Early 1950s
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful and very elegant 1940s curved two-seat sofa from the 1940s. Often called banana sofas by the Danes due to the curved shape. This sofa has slightly more straight backrest an...
Brass
Swedish Gustavian 18th Century Painted Pine Settee with Storage
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Swedish 18th century Gustavian style settee/banquette with its original hand-scraped & painted finish over the carved pine frame. The solid construction makes for a sheltering so...
Muslin, Pine, Paint
$6,200
H 32.25 in W 74.13 in D 30.5 in
Swedish Gustavian Settee, Painted Wood & Upholstered, Circa 1800
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A unique Swedish Gustavian settee from the late 18th century with painted wood frame sheltering the fully upholstered interior of a single bench cushion, matching seatback, and two s...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
$10,500
H 37 in W 51 in D 30 in
19th C. Wicker Tete-a-Tete Chair with Intricate Caned Backs in Natural Finish
Located in Nashua, NH
A very rare wicker conversation chair also known as a Tete-a-Tete .This side by side chair is woven in a very gracious design in a natural finish with beautifully styled curly cue wing sided head rests which sit above intricately hand caned backs. The comfortable and elegant scrolled arms are decorated with cross hatch weave which rest upon woven supports along with curly cue decoration beneath.The hard wood framed seats contain pressed caning which sit above a lovely simply designed chair skirt in a curled flowing design supported on woven legs with brass tips with contemporary upholstered 3" cushions in Sunbrella fabric.This very rare couples chair...
Wicker, Cane, Wood
Milo Baughman Style Mid Century Chrome Base Settee Sofa
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Milo Baughman style mid century chrome base settee sofa The sofa measures: 60 wide x 34.5 deep x 30 high, with a seat height of 17 inches and arm height of 21 inches We take our ph...
Chrome
French Giltwood Loveseat Sofa
Located in Vilnius, LT
French handcrafted and gilded wood loveseat sofa circa 1950s. The sofa is upholstered with red and gold colour damask pattern. Very good vintage condit...
Textile, Wood
$24,950 / set
H 38 in W 66 in D 28 in
Pair of Louis XVI Style Carved and Laqué Gilded Bergère Settees or Loveseats
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of Louis XVI style carved and Laqué gilded bergère settees. The elegant pair of carved loveseats, upholstered in a blue velvet, with padded backs and sides and a cushion seat,...
Wood
Swedish Art Moderne Settee Sofa, Cherry Red Velvet, 1940s Design
Located in Atlanta, GA
Beautifully stylized Art Moderne Settee Sofa Loveseat from 1940's Sweden. Upholstered in original cherry red velvet. Price includes reupholstery in COM fa...
Velvet
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Sofa
Located in Round Top, TX
Beautiful faint pale creamy light green painted and scraped Swedish sofa with new blush pink upholstery. Measures: 57.25 W x 26 D x 37.5 T x 17 T seat.
Wood
Sold
H 40 in W 62 in D 25 in
Solid Acacia Wood Gustavian Swedish Style Window Bench Settee with Cushion
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a hand carved solid acacia that was made to look like an antique Gustavian settee. The piece has some imperfections and flaws that add...
Beech
Swedish Italian Parcel Gilt and Paint Decorated Settee or Sofa
Located in Stamford, CT
Swedish Italian parcel-gilt and paint decorated settees or sofa. This simply stunning recently upholstered settee is sure to be a big hit in any...
Fabric, Wood
Gustavian Style Painted and Upholstered Loveseat Settee
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Dreamy scoop back settee bench with grayish white painted wood, reeded legs and wonderfully shaped arms, urn shaped finials, newly upholstered in white duck. Measures: Seat height...
Wood
Gustavian Style Love Seat
Located in Norwalk, CT
Featuring a tufted back and fine quality all down single cushion, this small sofa combines great lines with comfort. The original silk fabric is quite clean but shown some signs of w...
Gustavian Style Love Seat
Located in New York, NY
Carved wood frame with an off-white pickled painted finish. Has a down filled loose seat, upholstered back, original fabric and fluted legs.
Wood, Upholstery
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Bench
Located in New York, NY
A Gustavian bench, Swedish, 19th century. Without upholstery. Its original pale blue painted frame, shows the classic aged patina which characterizes the style. With the combinatio...
Wood