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Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk 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
19th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Remarkable 19th-century Gustavian revolving desk chair in its original condition, circa 1810, Sweden. The condition of the chair is very good containing its original finish and pa...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair
19th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair

19th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair

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Located in Mjöhult, SE
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18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair
18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair

18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair

H 31.7 in W 29.14 in D 20.87 in
Rare 18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Rare 18th century Gustavian revolving desk chair in original condition, circa 1790, Sweden.  
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Rare 18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair
Rare 18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair

Rare 18th Century Gustavian Revolving Desk Chair

H 85 in W 73 in D 50 in
19th Century Gustavian Swivel Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
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Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Gustavian Swivel Chair
19th Century Gustavian Swivel Chair

19th Century Gustavian Swivel Chair

H 32.29 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in
Swedish Painted Occasional Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
Swedish, Gustavian Style painted side or desk chair.
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18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Wood

Swedish Painted Occasional Chair
Swedish Painted Occasional Chair

Swedish Painted Occasional Chair

H 34 in W 18 in D 17 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian, Klismos Chair
By Ephraim Stahl
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Swedish, 19th century, Gustavian, Klismos chair. Attributed to Stockholm Master Ephraim Stahl. Supplier to the Royal Court and one of the most sophisticated and inventive makers ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian, Klismos Chair
19th Century Swedish Gustavian, Klismos Chair

19th Century Swedish Gustavian, Klismos Chair

H 37.41 in W 22.84 in D 20.87 in
Louis XVI Style Side Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
Vintage Louis XVI Style side chair with beautiful detail carving and newly upholstered in beige quilted fabric on seat and back and complem...
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Early 20th Century Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Louis XVI Style Side Chair
Louis XVI Style Side Chair

Louis XVI Style Side Chair

H 41 in W 17.5 in D 21 in
Armchair Swedish Gustavian White 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Armchair Swedish Gustavian White 19th Century Sweden. A beautiful armchair made during the Gustavian period. Back splat with a carved in a typical carv...
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Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Wood

Armchair Swedish Gustavian White 19th Century Sweden
Armchair Swedish Gustavian White 19th Century Sweden

Armchair Swedish Gustavian White 19th Century Sweden

H 36 in W 25 in D 18 in
Swedish Painted Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
Swedish, Gustavian style painted side or desk chair.
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18th Century and Earlier Swedish Antique Gustavian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood

Swedish Painted Chair
Swedish Painted Chair

Swedish Painted Chair

H 34 in W 18 in D 17 in

Gustavian office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage office chairs and desk chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian office chairs and desk chairs 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 office chairs and desk chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,275 and tops out at $7,600 while the average work can sell for $4,438.

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