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Gustavian Furniture

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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Gustavian
Small Antique Gustavian Style Bleached Side Table. English C.1800
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Elegant bleached tropical hardwood table Lovely colour Recently bleached With 2 drawers Original brass hardware Free Uk shipping
Category

Early 1800s English Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Harlequin Set of 10 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A wonderful set of ten English limed oak chairs. Not quite matching. There are actually 3 different models ( 4 + 3 + 3 ). Each chair has a variation of the same basic characteristi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

Set of 4 Antique Gustavian Style Urn Back Dining Chairs.English C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A delightful matching set of 4 English limed oak chairs. They have been recently limed to enhance the beautiful grain in the wood. The seats have been re-upholstered in hessian or...
Category

Early 20th Century English Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

Antique Swedish Genuine Gustavian Period Decorated Foot Stool with Original Seat
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique foot stool from the Swedish gustavian period around 1770 to 1780. This Swedish antique has classic carved wooden decor on the legs and sides. Original paint from the ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Danish Gustavian (Louis XVI) Pine Chest of Drawers with Original Brass Fittings
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative Gustavian chest of drawers (known in Denmark as Louis XVI) crafted in pine, carefully stripped back to its original black paint with a beautifully aged patina. The top is ...
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Genuine Antique Swedish Gustavian Period Sideboard with Light Distressed Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish sideboard from the gustavian period around 1780. The sideboard is made in Stockholm by hand with a frame in solid pine. It has the straight classic shape with...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Large 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Fall Front Desk
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Large early 19th Century Swedish fall front desk. With copious amounts of drawer storage the work space to the desk, below three drawers opening to further storage. Repainted in soft...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Buffet in Original Salmon Pink Paint
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A very unusual early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian buffet. With reeded front and sides, a pierced gallery on top and original lion feet. Scraped back to original salmon paint. Thee ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th century Scandinavian walnut chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Scandinavian walnut chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality Swedish chest of drawers unusually made in walnut. Rectangular top with moulded edge and canted front cor...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Pine

Swedish hand painted 19th century pine cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish hand painted 19th century pine cupboard circa 1788. We are pleased to offer this fine piece of traditional hand painted scandinavian furniture, in the form of a double door ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Vintage large Scandinavian commode in pine from the 19 century
Located in SAINT-YRIEIX-SUR-CHARENTE, FR
Antique 19th century Scandinavian chest of drawers in solid pine opening to 5 drawers. The top drawer is thinner and has compartments. The whole structure is divided into two parts a...
Category

1850s Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Early 19th century painted Swedish Gustavian sofa
Located in London, GB
A useful and understated Swedish Gustavian sofa/bench. Later painted in a light grey blue and upholstered in a blue stripe with cushioned sides and separate long seat cushion with b...
Category

1810s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

Mid 19th century Swedish pine long case mora clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish pine long case mora clock circa 1850. Large Swedish long case mora clock, presented in scraped back paint. Scraped back down to reveal a partial colour of ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Genuine Swedish Gustavian Period Sideboard in Original Condition
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique sideboard from the gustavian period. The sideboard is a genuine antique from around 1820 made by hand in solid pine in northern Sweden. Classic gustavian straight sha...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Northern Swedish Gustavian Period Handmade Rustic Pine Sideboard
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish rustic sideboard from the gustavian period, made around 1810. The sideboard is made in northern Sweden by hand from solid pine. It has a straight shape with two doors...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Rare Swedish Antique Cabinet, Genuine Country Furniture in Gustavian Style
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish antique cabinet, a genuine country house furniture in gustavian style from northern Sweden. The cabinet is made by hand in solid p...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock from the 1960's in original colour with painted floral decoration. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime on the hour. Width:...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Genuine Swedish Original Gustavian Period Handmade Chest of Drawers
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish chest of drawers from the 1700s in gustavian style. The chest is a genuine Swedish gustavian furniture with four drawers made by hand in solid pine around 1790. Class...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

18th Ctr. Gustavian Black-Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian chest of drawers in black-painted wood with beautiful patina. An elegant chest of drawers with four drawers – one upper, smaller drawer featureing fine fluting, while the t...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock from the 1960's in original wood. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime on the hour. Width: 56cm / 22.0" Depth: 16.5cm / 6.5...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Set of Ten 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Dining Chairs
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A rare and elegant set of ten 19th Century Gustavian dining chairs crafted in the renowned furniture-making province of Lindome, Sweden. Circa 1820. These chairs exemplify the refin...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of 19th century Swedish Gustavian chairs from Lindome Halland, Southern Sweden. A Very nice and decorative Chair model with a cut lily in the back of the chair. Nicely cut ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Rare Low and Wide Northern Swedish Sideboard from the Gustavian Period
Located in Kramfors, SE
Wide Swedish antique sideboard. This sideboard is a country house furniture from the gustavian period made in northern Sweden around 1790. The proportions and craftsmanship makes it ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Pine Sideboard from the Swedish Gustavian Period with Birch Faux Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Sideboard from the Swedish gustavian period made in northern Sweden around 1790. This antique sideboard is a genuine Swedish original furniture made by hand in solid pine. Untouched ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

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 Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Original Chest on Chest from the Gustavian Period from Stockholm, Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish chest on chest in gustavian style made around 1780 in Stockholm, Sweden. The chest is made in a classic, straight gustavian styl...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Gustavian Drop Leaf Table Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
Small, pretty, easily placed antique Drop leaf table from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. Nice untouched original paint in beautiful Englis...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinet with Reeded Front
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian cabinet. With decorative carved pediment and two large doors and a reeded front. Opening to storage shelves, below two further doors with reeded f...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Gustavian Sofa with Original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th Century Antique Rustic Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa from Råneå Norrbotten ,Northern Sweden. A beautiful Swedish Gustavian sofa ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish mid 19th century carved pine rocking cradle circa 1840. We are pleased to offer this piece of traditional swedish furniture.  Made from solid heavy pine, likely to have been...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish early 19th century Gustavian painted sofa
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish early 19th century Gustavian painted sofa circa 1810. Stunning sofa in original paint.  This would have been a day bed with a pull out section to the front, but it has since...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Swedish Antique Bureau in Gustavian Style, Made By Hand in Solid Pine Circa 1820
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique bureau in gustavian style from around 1820. The bureau has three drawers and is made by hand with a frame in solid pine. Classic shape with straight corners and edges...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Late 19th Century Swedish Astral Glazed Bookcase
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian bookcase. With two astral glazed doors, opening to storage shelves. Below two further doors, opening to ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Chests in Coral Red
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of Gustavian style chests, crafted from pine and painted in an elegant coral red color. Each chest has three drawers with panel detailing and brass hardware, with the top draw...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Rare Swedish Sideboard, Unusually Low Gustavian Style Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique Swedish sideboard. The sideboard is unusually low and made in gustavian style. It is an authentic country house furniture from 1834 made in Hälsingland. The frame is mad...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Genuine rustic antique Gustavian Drop leaf table country original color.
Located in Boden, SE
Genuine gustavian drop-leaf table made around 1790 to 1810 in Luleå Norrbotten ,Northern Sweden. The frame is made from solid pine and it has the original paint with genuine distres...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Tilt Top Table / Pedestal Table Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century swedish Gustavian Tilt top table from Kalix Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. A beautiful table in good condition & stable in construction. The table is originalpainted. Tur...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Pair of Gustavian Candlesticks in Brass and Carrara Marble, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Gustavian Candlesticks in Brass and Carrara Marble, Late 18th Century Elegant pair of Gustavian candlesticks from the 1790s, crafted in brass and fine Carrara marble. The c...
Category

1790s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

19th century Swedish birch long case mora clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish mora long case clock, circa 1850. Presented in its original birch finish which has taken on a good patina. Naive hand painted enamel clock face with expected mi...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

Gustavian Bench
Located in Cirencester, GB
This beautiful antique Swedish bench is early 19th century from Northern Sweden. The layers of paint have been dry scraped revealing the original colours and beautiful carved deta...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in black. This classic Gustavian commode is a very versatile piece that works well in a foyer, living room or bedroom.
Category

Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock dated 1854 with hand painted floral details. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime on the hour. Width:51cm / 20.1" Depth: 21...
Category

1850s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Genuine Swedish Gustavian Pine Provincial Sofa Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish Gustavian provincial sofa crafted in pine, showcasing its original scraped paint. This sofa, dating back to the early 19th century, around 1800 to 1810, exemplifies ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish antique Gustavian Table with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish Gustavian table from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. The table is handscraped to its original color. Hardware is original to the piece. Made in painted pine. ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Set of Six 19th Century Gustavian Chairs
Located in Allerum, SE
Set of six fine 19th century Gustavian chairs with the original padding and muslin. dry scraped to reveal the original finish. Stockholm, Sweden ca 1800.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Mora Clock
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Swedish Mora clock from 1830 in original colour. Cream with hand painted floral detailing. Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weights and a bell chime. This Mora clock conta...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Tall Painted Wood Column Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Bring a touch of Scandinavian classical architecture into your home with this impressive vintage Column Pedestal. Certainly makes a wonderful addition to any home seeking a display p...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Mid 19th century painted Swedish water canteen
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century painted Swedish water carrier circa 1860. Although we have seen many of these on our travels this one without doubt is the best.  In original blue/green paint, clea...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Blue Late 19th Century Swedish 3 Drawer Gustavian Chest
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in Gustavian blue. This classic Gustavian style commode is a very versatile piece that works well in a foyer, living room or bedroom.
Category

Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mid 19th century Swedish painted long case clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish decorative column long case clock circa 1837. Beautiful long case clock from Sweden. Made with a decorative fluted column which forms a demi lune shape. Clo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Enamel

Late 18th Century Swedish Untouched Gustavian Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Late 18th century Swedish drop-leaf table from the Gustavian era. The model is very unusual with a middle much narrower than typical, it's only 14 cm wide when the table is folded to...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers Commode Tallboy Black C 1850
Located in Lewes, England
C 1850 antique Swedish Gustavian painted chest of 3 drawers commode with detailed gustavian ribbed decorative motifs on the top rail, front and brass detailing. It has 3 drawers wi...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Gustavian Swedish Kitchen Cabinet
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Good early 19th century Swedish pine kitchen cabinet with folk art decoration. 1804. Internal depths: Top - 11-inches Bottom - 18-inches Code: 89...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Table in Original Paint
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th Century Gustavian table from from Umea, Vasterbotten, Sweden. With decorative carved detailing and original soft grey white paint. Circa 1820.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Exceptional 19th Century Gustavian Sofa
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional, elegant and unusually long 19th century Gustavian sofa in it's original condition. Signed by Ephraim Sthal (1767-1820). Supplier to the Royal Court and one of the most s...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th century Swedish painted pine chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish painted pine chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality 3 drawer chest of drawers painted in a light coral paint effect.  2 plank top surface, with 3 drawers of ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Gustavian Bedside Table wuth Marble Top
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Gustavian style bedside tables with white marble top. Made in second half of 20th century. Greay color with gold detailing. Width: 50cm / 19.7" Depth: 54cm / 21.3" Height: 73cm / ...
Category

1950s European Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Cinnabar Red Secretary, Swedish Antique C. 1800
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary painted in an elegant cinnabar red and a black-painted top with a profiled edge. The interior is revealed when the writing surface is lowered and features a black...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Pair of Late 19th Century Demi Lune Tables with Painted Greek Key Detail
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A charming pair of late 19th Century Swedish demi-lune tables, later painted in soft, neutral tones. Featuring elegant tapered legs and classic painted Greek Key detailing along the...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Swedish Gustavian Mora Clock in Original Green Orange Colors, Early 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish antique mora clock dating from early/ 1800s featuring green paint with orange details that is painted on the body. The clockwork is sold 'as is' and should be considered as...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Gustavian furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Ephraim Stahl, Hendrix Allardyce, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, and Jonas Frisk. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $49,500 while the average work can sell for $4,473.

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