Skip to main content

Gustavian Sideboards

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.

to
6
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
43
19
60
2
2,012
1,038
533
505
160
132
113
91
89
70
64
47
33
30
26
24
17
13
11
35
14
2
3
11
1
1
1
4
4
2
62
34
34
19
14
62
59
59
2
2
62
60
61
Style: Gustavian
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Sideboard
Located in Huntington, NY
A beautiful Swedish Gustavian sideboard made in Angermanland with elaborate wood carvings – reeded door fronts, leaf cut detail at the top and wheat sheath décor on the sides. Interi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Sideboards

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Sideboard
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Sideboard

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Sideboard

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Reeded 2 Door 2 Drawer Buffet
Located in San Angelo, TX
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood buffet from the 19th century with reeded drawers over doors, and distressed patina. Created in Sweden during the ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Sideboards

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Reeded 2 Door 2 Drawer Buffet
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Reeded 2 Door 2 Drawer Buffet

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Reeded 2 Door 2 Drawer Buffet

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Period Painted Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Swedish Gustavian Period painted buffet will make a handsome addition to your collection, and a stylistic touch to your decor! Hand-crafted from indigenous old-growth pi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Sideboards

Materials

Brass

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Period Painted Buffet
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Period Painted Buffet

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Period Painted Buffet

Antique Gustavian Gray Painted Tall Sideboard Buffet Server circa 1820-40
Located in Round Top, TX
Gustavian gray painted tall pine sideboard or server cabinet with contrasting faux painted top in black, gray and white. Scallop or fan detail carved in center above narrow shelf. ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Sideboards

Materials

Pine, Paint

Antique Gustavian Gray Painted Tall Sideboard Buffet Server circa 1820-40
Antique Gustavian Gray Painted Tall Sideboard Buffet Server circa 1820-40

Antique Gustavian Gray Painted Tall Sideboard Buffet Server circa 1820-40

Gustavian sideboards for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian sideboards for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sideboards created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, pine and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian sideboards 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 sideboards differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,145 and tops out at $15,400 while the average work can sell for $5,475.

Recently Viewed

View All