Gustavian Wingback Chairs
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.
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Unknown Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
Late 20th Century American Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century Antique Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
1950s Danish Vintage Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
20th Century American Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
20th Century American Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Brass
1970s American Vintage Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Damask, Walnut
Late 20th Century Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Cherry
Late 20th Century American Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
1850s Danish Antique Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Wood
1850s Ukrainian Antique Gustavian Wingback Chairs
1970s American Vintage Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Cane, Fabric, Wood
