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Gustavian Cupboards

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 Swedish birch fitted cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish birch fitted cupboard circa 1880. Beautifully fully restored Swedish birch sideboard / cupboard which could serve for mul...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Birch

18th Century Blue Painted Gustavian Sideboard, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A custom-made Swedish blue and grey painted Gustavian antique cupboard, circa 1780-1820. The clean and useful interior has three drawers that were used for cutlery tools. This Scandi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine

18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A two-tiered wooden cabinet from the 18th century Swedish Gustavian period. The top door opens to reveal a decorative top shelf and three other shelves. The top of the bottom shelf c...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Swedish 19th century painted pine cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century painted pine cupboard circa 1870. Superb quality piece which would function well in multiple rooms such as a kitchen, bedroom or linen room.  This piece would s...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine, Paint

Antique Dutch Painted Country Bombe Linen Press Cabinet
Located in Sheffield, MA
The rare diminutive Dutch Bombe linen press has original white painted over blue with three deep drawers below and a double-door storage space ...
Category

18th Century Dutch Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Gustavian 19th Century Cabinet with Original Paint
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A Swedish Gustavian cabinet from the 19th century or earlier with its original vibrant paint, reeded doors, and an open shelf. The top portion is removable and features a sharply mol...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Metal

19th Century Swedish Pair of Oak Pharmacy Desks - Antique Apothecary Cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique pair of dark-grey Swedish Gustavian pharmacy desks made of hand crafted painted Oakwood, in good condition. Each of the Scandinavian apothecar...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Oak

Swedish 1800s Gustavian White Painted Two-Part Cabinet
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A two-tiered wooden cabinet from the early 19th century Swedish Gustavian period. The top section opens to a shelf for hanging wine glasses and a small drawer for storing cutlery. Th...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Pair, Antique Gustavian Gray Painted Narrow Cabinets, Sweden circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, gray painted Gustavian narrow cabinets or "pedestal cabinet" from Sweden. Rare to find a pair in this fine condition. Lovely lines with applied wreath or ribbon motif on front ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine, Paint

Swedish Gustavian Style Glass Top Cabinet
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Swedish Gustavian Style Glass Top Cabinet. it was assembled with using a chest of drawers from 1990 and Antique Windows over 100 years old. If you look at the pics ...
Category

1990s Swedish Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Cupboard Storage Original Grey Rustic Finish
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
An original, late 19th Century Swedish painted pine cupboard in superb original condition. Lovely detailing, with ogee moulding to the top, diamond motif pillars leading to moulded f...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine, Paint

18th Century Swedish Painted Pine Two-Tiered Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Swedish Painted Pine Two-Tiered Cabinet is ideal for the casual decor, providing both visual impact and abundant storage in one! The top ti...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Chest - Antique Pinewood Nightstand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Neoclassic chest with a painted faux finish marble top, in good condition. The antique Scandinavian chest is made of hand crafted Pinewood, richly ca...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Marble

Dated 1831 Scandinavian Painted Step-Back Pine Cupboard with Initials R.K.S.
Located in New York, NY
This is a antique Scandinavian cupboard made in 1831 from pine wood. This cupboard has a step-back design where the upper section is set ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine, Paint

1918 Swedish Grace Period Inlaid Neoclassical Cabinet A. B. Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Forest Grove, PA
This early cabinet is by A. B. Nordiska Kompaniet attributed to Carl Bergsten, 1918. Figural birch with inlay. The door opening is 12.5" wide and 21.2" high. Swedish Grace: elegant ...
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Birch

Gustavian Cupboard
Located in Hellerup, DK
Beautiful antique Swedish Gustavian (1770-1810) cupboard scraped back to the original color - wonderful patina and with 3 shelves behind the 2 doors.
Category

1770s Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armoire Cupboard Cabinet
Located in San Angelo, TX
A beautiful Swedish Gustavian cabinet that has been painted and dry scrapped over its lifetime. It dissembles into two parts. This beautiful piece shows the original paint job with p...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Pine, Paint

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Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Cupboards

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Gustavian Cupboard from the Province of Smaland
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Located in Debenham, Suffolk
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Gustavian cupboards for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian cupboards for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cupboards created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, pine and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian cupboards made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original cupboards, popular names associated with this style include and Nordiska Kompaniet. 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 cupboards differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,886 and tops out at $26,500 while the average work can sell for $6,000.

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