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.
A Swedish Gustavian-style Painted Daybed with Cushions
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Swedish painted daybed measuring a generous and hard-to-find length of 98 inches. The daybed retains its painted surface and is accompanied by newly recovered cushions, offering both...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
$7,120Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Swedish Sofa Bench Settee in Original Paint, Gustavian Period, 18th c.
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful antique Swedish sofa bench from the Gustavian period dry scraped to its original patina. The sofa frame is adorned with a lovely leaf motif and rests upon tapered and flu...
Linen, Wood, Paint
$8,720Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish Gustavian Barrel Back Sofa with Lion Heads in Original Paint, 19th c.
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful antique Swedish barrel back sofa or settee in the Gustavian style from the 19th century, newly upholstered in linen, circa 1890. Hand scraped to reveal the original paint...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Grey Painted Benches or Settees
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair Of Swedish Gustavian style grey painted benches Complimentary delivery to most areas of London UK.
Pine
$2,788Sale Price|30% Off
Gustavian Settle Sofa Underseat Storage Later White Paint, 19th Century
Located in Lewes, England
Unusual late 1800s Gustavian settle with sunrise marquetry motif, curved arms and a fully sprung box seat with huge under seat storage and later paint. The sunrise motif is beautifu...
Pine
19th Century Louis XVI Gustavian style Salon Suite 1 Sofà 6 Chairs 2 Armchairs
Located in Vigonza, Padua
They can be sold separately. -Sofa: measures cm. W 140, D 70, H 115/45 cm PRICE US$ 6,500.00 -2 Armchairs : measures cm. W 60 , D 60 , H 95/45 PRICE US$ ...
Silk, Walnut
$3,307Sale Price|30% Off
Swedish Gustavian Sofa Couch Loveseat White Carved, Late 19th Century 3-Seat
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish antique Gustavian sofa in classic white finish with delicately carved detailing decorative front fluted legs and a central carved motif along the back. Fine example of the l...
Birch
Late 19th Century Gustavian Style Gilt Settee and Matching Chair
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th century Gustavian style gilt settee and matching chair newly reupholstered. Former restorations and repair to back left leg of sett...
Wood
Early 19th Century Gustavian Swedish Period Settee with Antique Linen
Located in Charleston, SC
Very rare. Swedish Gustavian period bench, circa 1800, finished on all three sides with Guilloché carvings on carved round fluted legs. Scraped to original cream /white finish and u...
Linen, Wood, Paint
19th Century Gustavian Sofa Bench
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Gustavian sofa bench with original paint. Exquisite carving on the front and side panels and along the perimeter of the upholstered a...
Wood
$10,140Sale Price|40% Off
Gustavian Barrel Back Sofa with Griffin Details, Newly Upholstered
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare Gustavian style barrel back sofa with beautiful wood carved griffins, hand-scraped to the original paint and newly upholstered, circa 1900. Exquisite carved detail. The seat f...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Grey Painted Swedish Settee with Shell and Foliate Carving
Located in Essex, MA
Grey painted Swedish settee with shell and foliate carving with turned stretcher bottom and gently curved legs. Off-white muslin seat cover. Measures: 44" H x 50.5" W x 21" D.
Wood
$15,527
H 39.38 in W 77.56 in D 41.34 in
Louis XV period Canapé à Oreilles Serpentine Shaped Sofa, Settee Upholstered
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A Louis XV period Canapé à Oreilles serpentine-shaped sofa. Featuring carved detailing, decorated with floral motifs and acanthus, with original Verd...
Walnut
Sold|$5,275
H 28 in W 84 in D 43 in
19th-C. French Painted Daybed In New Linen W/ Gustavian Swedish Styling
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a wonderful piece! It is a French Louis XVI style daybed and with the addition of the neutral linen upholstery, it can have a Gustavian flare. The painted French gray is orig...
Linen, Beech
Modern Gio Ponti Style Window Benches or Settees
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Modern walnut sculpted and brass sabot benches or settees inspired by Gio Ponti the famous Italian Mid - Century designer . Floating cushion newly upholstered on top of solid brass ...
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Sofa
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian style pine sofa of bench from Hälsingland. An extendable sofa ‘daybed’ featuring a stylish sunburst-patterned backrest, exemplifying elegant Gust...
Pine, Paint
$2,347Sale Price|20% Off
H 42.13 in W 35.44 in D 16.15 in
Italian Vintage Modernist Brutalist Style Solid Wood High Back Settee Benches
Located in Firenze, IT
This vintage Mid-Century Modern period solid wood banquette settee was probably a chapel pews benches. These original and rare high back seatings str...
Metal
$8,950Sale Price / set|39% Off
H 46.5 in W 79 in D 32.25 in
French Louis XVI Style 19th Century Giltwood Carved Three-Piece Salon Suite
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French Louis XVI style 19th century giltwood carved three-piece salon suite, comprising of a three-corps settee and...
Fabric, Giltwood
19th Century Louis XVI Style Settee
Located in Belmont, MA
Elaborate Louis XVI style settee, finely carved pearwood. Straight back crowned with wreath, upholstered seat and back, ending on round tapered baluster legs. Originally the settee b...
Pearwood
100% Original Painted Swedish Gustavian Sofa
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a 100% original painted Swedish Gustavian sofa. the seating has been restored and covered in Muslin.
Birch
Austro-German 19th Century Biedermeier Sofa
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fabulous Biedermeier style settee from 19th century Bavaria made from exceptionally beautiful, solid maple in a sheltering design like a banquette to enclose the upholstery. Some a...
Upholstery, Maple
Original Painted Swedish Gustavian Sofa
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Original Painted Swedish Gustavian Sofa. the seating has been restored and covered in Muslin.
Berlin Iron
Black Iron Lyre-Back Bench or Settee, Brass Swan Heads & Paw Feet
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rarely Seen vintage black wrought iron and brass lyre-back with swan heads and paw feet bench or settee with upholstered stripe seat cushion and two bol...
Brass, Wrought Iron
$31,950Sale Price / set|32% Off
H 44.5 in W 63.25 in D 31 in
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Three-Piece Giltwood and Aubusson Salon Suite
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style three-piece giltwood carved and silk Aubusson tapestry three-piece salon suite, comprising of a settee and two fauteuils (armchairs), the Aubusson silk...
Silk, Wood
Sold
H 39.38 in W 74.02 in D 21.66 in
Gustavian Settle Sofa Underseat Storage Later White Paint, 19th Century
Located in Lewes, England
Unusual late 1800s Gustavian settle with sunrise marquetry motif, curved arms and a fully sprung box seat with huge under seat storage and later paint. The sunrise motif is beautifu...
Pine
Sold
H 34.06 in W 58.67 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Gustavian Sofa Couch Loveseat White Carved, Late 19th Century 3-Seat
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish antique Gustavian sofa in classic white finish with delicately carved detailing decorative front fluted legs and a central carved motif along the back. Fine example of the l...
Birch
Sold
H 34.06 in W 58.67 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Gustavian Sofa Couch Loveseat White Carved, Late 19th Century 3-Seat
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish antique Gustavian sofa in classic white finish with delicately carved detailing decorative front fluted legs and a central carved motif along the back. Fine example of the l...
Birch
Late 18th Century elegan Swedish Gustavian Settee
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Refined Swedish Gustavian Settee, Lindome School, Late 18th Century. Features neoclassical carving with fluted legs, rosettes, and the signature berry-and-leaf motif. Retains traces ...
Textile, Upholstery, Wood
Antique Continental Possibly Austrian Settee c. Early 19th Century
Located in Westfield, MA
This refined early 19th century Continental settee, possibly Austrian in origin, reflects the elegant simplicity of neoclassical seating furniture of the period. The frame is crafted...
Fabric, Walnut
18th C. Swedish Gustavian Settee or Bench c. 1790
Located in Charlottesville, VA
18th C. Swedish Gustavian Settee or Bench c. 1790. Having original paint. The beautifully foliate carved back supported by turned and foliate spindles over a rectangular seat with ...
Wood
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Stickback Settee
Located in Huntington, NY
A stunning Swedish Gustavian stickback settee. Rectangular back with vertical leaf cut detailing on upper frame topped by round finials. Back and sides are carved with a unique arrow...
Linen, Wood, Paint
19th c. Swedish Gustavian Sofa Bench with Griffins in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful Swedish sofa bench in the Gustavian style with carved griffins, hand-scraped to the original paint and newly upholstered in linen, circa 1880. Exquisite carved detail thr...
Linen, Wood, Paint
Long Gray Gustavian Settee Bench, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Elegant lines define this long gustavian settee with graceful curved arms, carved skirt and turned fluted legs. Gray layered painted finish is lightly distressed, complimenting the c...
Damask, Wood, Paint
Settee Swedish Gustavian Style 100% Original Paint
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a 100% Painted Swedish Gustavian Style Daybed / Love Seat. the seating has been restored and covered with Muslin.
Wood
Sold
H 34.06 in W 58.67 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Gustavian Sofa Couch Loveseat White Carved, Late 19th Century 3-Seat
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish antique Gustavian sofa in classic white finish with delicately carved detailing decorative front fluted legs and a central carved motif along the back. Fine example of the l...
Birch
Swedish Gustavian 18th Century Settle
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A Swedish Gustavian settle or bench from the 1790’s with its original paint finish. The frame of this Swedish bench is made of carved pine with its original worn blue paint finish. The flat back sits higher than the reeded bench arms...
Linen, Upholstery, Wood, Paint