Skip to main content

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.

to
139
914
585
1,446
34
27
197,848
114,497
44,016
33,495
16,057
12,226
10,932
10,774
9,957
8,900
7,318
6,706
6,633
6,394
6,135
6,117
4,936
3,787
327
779
340
61
100
151
20
12
15
14
21
37
49
17
7
5
1
1,371
510
508
259
253
1,407
1,290
1,243
42
33
1,507
1,489
1,494
7
2
2
2
2
Style: Gustavian
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

Pair of Swedish Commodes
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pair of 19th Century Swedish painted and decorated pine commodes. 1890
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair, 19th Century White Swedish Gustavian Bookcases Display Cabinets
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of tall Gustavian style white painted pine bookcases standing just under 8' tall. Dentil molding along crown and traditional fluted carving along cabinet door panels. Two interi...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Glass, Pine, Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Console Table
Located in Round Top, TX
Swedish Gustavian style console table with tapered legs. Applied carved embellishments top the legs and a lion medallion in the center of skirt each add to the romantic appeal of thi...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Tall Case Closk
Located in Mckinney, TX
An exquisite Swedish tall case clock boasting a rounded crown and clean lines, complemented by a dry-scraped finish. The clock retains its original blue-green and alabaster paint wit...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Iron

19th Century Swedish antique Gustavian buffet with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th century Swedish Antique Rustic Gustavian buffet from Umeå Northern Sweden. Beautiful genuine buffet in original condition. These doors open to reveal inner shelves offer...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

18th Century Gustavian Sideboard Circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 18th-century Gustavian sideboard, circa 1790, is a remarkable example of Swedish neoclassical design, blending functionality with timeless elegance. Constructed from pine, the s...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian 1880s Light Gray Nightstands with Drawers and Doors, a Pair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Gustavian style bedside tables from circa 1880 with light gray finish, single drawer over single door, canted side posts and tapered feet. This pair of Swedish Gust...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

RARE Gustavian Style Wardrobe
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Very Rare Gustavian Style wardrobe, it was just restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swedish Decorated Commodes
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pair of 19th Century Swedish 3 drawer commodes with Greek Key decoration. 1890
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large Gray Painted Pine Swedish Cabinet, circa 1770-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
Beautifully crafted large Swedish Pine Cabinet with curved upper bonnet and graceful panel doors standing over 7' tall. Newer custom professionally painted finish in layered shades o...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian cupboard with reeded doors and original paint. Circa 1820.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Window Seat
Located in Huntington, NY
An unusual Swedish window seat from Lindome in the oval (or zero) style with incredible detailed carvings. The arched sides have an intricately detailed open design. The upper sectio...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paint

Swedish Early 19th Century Gustavian Painted Tall Cabinet with Reeded Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian early 19th century painted wood two-part cabinet from the county of Jämtland. Born in the second decade of the 19th century in Jämtland, a county situated in the middle of Sweden, this Swedish tall cabinet...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Swedish mid 19th century birch buffet sideboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish mid 19th century birch buffet sideboard circa 1860. Fine quality Swedish buffet of grand proportions.  Top surface with shallow gallery on the back. 2 lockable drawers below...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Birch

Swedish Art Deco, Set of 4 Klismos Chairs in Birch & Elm, Griffin Inlays, 1930s
Located in Odense, DK
A set of four exquisite dining chairs from the 1930s, crafted in solid elm with elegantly curved backrests adorned in birch root veneer. Each backrest is enhanced with intricate grif...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Bone, Fabric, Bakelite, Birch, Elm

Gustavian White Painted Bench, Sweden circa 1820
Located in Round Top, TX
This lovely 6' long bench is a wonderful example of Swedish Gustavian craftsmanship with it's fluted carved skirt and back all resting on turned fluted legs. Restored, later professi...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Paint

Swedish antique rustic genuine Gustavian Table with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th Century Swedish antique Rustic Gustavian Provincial table from Skellefteå Västerbotten,Northern Sweden. The table has untouched original paint. The table has a drawer on ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Chelsa Textile Gustavian Style Distressed Bedside Tables
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very well made and stylish pair of drawer stands suitable for end tables or night stands. and Pair of Gustavian style four drawer nightstands with contrasting tops having a three-s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Teak

Round Black Pedestal Dining Table, Sweden 1920
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Swedish 20th Century Pedestal Dining Table in Black Paint. This round table has beautiful Gustavian ribbed details with a border going around the table edge.
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Chest of Drawers, circa 1960
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming small chest of drawers in the Gustavian style, crafted in Sweden circa 1960. Painted in a soft gray tone, the piece reflects the clean lines and refined elegance associate...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Genuine Antique Classic Gustavian Period Sideboard in Pine from Northern Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine Swedish classic sideboard from the gustavian period, made around 1790 in northern Sweden. Straight classic shape with pronounced corners decorated with flutes. Double doors a...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique 1904 Swedish Large Chocolate Tin
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming antique 1904 Swedish large dome top trunk shaped chocolate tin would add a beautiful Scandinavian accent to most anywhere in your house. The exterior is a stunning turquoi...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Tin

19th Century Swedish Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 19th-century Swedish writing desk exemplifies the timeless charm of Gustavian design, combining functionality with understated beauty. Crafted from solid pine wood, the ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Limed Oak Gustavian Style Urn Back Carver or Armchair. C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
An elegant Gustavian style carver or armchair A lovely shell inspired carved detail on the top rail It has been recently limed to enhance the beautiful grain in the wood. The seat...
Category

1920s English Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Burlap, Oak

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 Gustavian White Backless Bench Settee
Located in Round Top, TX
This backless sofa or settee is from the Swedish Gustavian period with carved details and fluted tapered feet. Please enlarge and examine the close up photos to appreciate the carved...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Paint

19th Century Danish Late Gustavian Chest of Drawers
Located in Huntington, NY
A Danish Late Gustavian chest of drawers with intricately carved details. Chest top has dental trim around three sides. Front corners have detailed neoclassical column carvings. Thre...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Wardrobe Gustavian Style
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique 2 door 4 drawer Gustavian Style Wardrobe. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints Oyster White.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Swedish Gustavian Style Mirror in Light Sand Patina, circa 1920
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine Swedish mirror in the Gustavian style, dating to approximately 1920. The rectangular frame is delicately carved with understated floral and foliate motifs, reflecting the grac...
Category

20th Century Swedish Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Mirror, 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

18th Century Swedish Gustavian, Antique Scandinavian Pine Drop-Leaf Dining Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-grey, antique Swedish Gustavian drop-leaf table with one drawer, made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, particularized in the Neoclassical Greek style, in good condition. The...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Rococo Style Mora Clock 1700's
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
Rococo longcase Mora Clock dated 1777 by Anders Swensson with original decorative paint detailing. Carved detailing to crown. Working Longcase clock mechanism of pendulum and 2 weigh...
Category

Early 18th Century European Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Late Gustavian Commode
Located in Huntington, NY
A three drawer Swedish Late Gustavian commode. Front corners are canted and fluted. Back corners are fluted as well. Sits atop tapered rectangular feet. Later iron pulls and original...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Iron

19th century swedish genuine rustic country Gustavian table with a drawer
Located in Boden, SE
The rustic, worn Gustavian square table from a farm in Västerbotten in Skellefteå is truly a gem. Its square shape and the shelf underneath give it a practical yet charming touch. It...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

18th Century Grey Swedish Gustavian Two Part Pine Secretary - Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-grey, white antique Sweden Gustavian two part bureau with a writing flap made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is com...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Gustavian Klismos Dining Chairs by Nierman Weeks, Set of 8
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Set of 8 exquisite Gustavian Klismos dining chairs by Niermann Weeks. Inspired by Grecian 18th century design, this Swedish style version is generous...
Category

Early 2000s American Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood, Paint, Upholstery

Louis XVI chest of drawers with rose painted color
Located in Kastrup, DK
Louis XVI chest of drawers with rose painted color on the body. Top plate painted black. Under the top plate, wood-carved round rings. 3 drawers with brass fittings, legs with rhombu...
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Gustavian-Style Sideboards, Sweden, Early 19th Century
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Pair of Gustavian-Style Sideboards, Sweden, Early 19th Century This refined pair of Gustavian-style sideboards perfectly embodies the calm elegance and harmonious proportions chara...
Category

1830s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Pair, Gustavian White Painted Arm Chairs from Sweden, circa 1840-1860
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair, attractive Swedish country white gustavian painted arm chairs. Turned, fluted legs and carved accents including floral motif. White painted finish distressed fitting the age ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers Gustavian Style
Located in Kvidinge, SE
This fantastic Swedish Chest of Drawers in Gustavian Style are made in solid pine during late 19th century painted in a Antique White/ Light Yellow/Green with an distress surface for...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Gustavian Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian console table in Egyptian taste with Porphyry marble top. ca 1810 Sweden.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Porphyry

Swedish Gustavian 2 Door Corner Cabinet
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Swedish Gustavian style 2 door corner cabinet. it was just restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White" from the back out to the front of each side is 26"...
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th century Swedish Gustavian Accent Chair
Located in Leesburg, VA
Anonymous Mid-19th century; Sweden Pine, linen. Approximate size: 35 (h) x 23 (w) x 18.5 (d) in. (seat height is 16.5 in.) This beautiful period chair showcases a lovely white wa...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Set of 12 Side Chairs Circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
This set of 12 19th-century side chairs, circa 1880, exemplifies the refined elegance of Swedish design from the late 19th century. Each chair features a gracefully curved frame craf...
Category

19th Century European Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Two Part Painted Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand late 18th century Swedish gustavian period two-part secretaire cabinet or bookcase crafted from pine and beech. The substantial case has a gracefully curved or arched pediment ...
Category

18th Century European Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Iron

Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Blue Painted Wall Hanging Corner Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood wall hanging corner cabinet from the late 18th century, with blue paint, single door and weathered appearance. Created in Sweden during the la...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

18th Century Swedish Gustavian One Part Pinewood Bureau - Antique Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 18th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian secretaire table, desk is composed with a wr...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Metal

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Black Painted Console Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A black painted Gustavian early 19th Century Console table. This pine Swedish free-standing console table is from around 1800-1820. It can stand freely in a room since there is not front or back and can be used as a cocktail table, a nightstand or a lamp table, anywhere in a house. This antique small...
Category

Early 1800s Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

Louis XV Style Chest in Black with Fine Brass Fittings and a Marble Top
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
A Louis XV style chestwith original brass details and handles in birch wood with a Black fine painted finish with Fine Brass Fittings and a Marble Top. Width: 73cm / 28.7" Depth: 3...
Category

1950s European Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

White Gustavian Side Table with Cabriolet Legs, Sweden circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
Swedish Gustavian side table with cabriolet legs and large scalloped skirt. Restored, later professionally painted in layered shades o...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th c. Swedish Sofa Bench Settee in Original Paint, Gustavian Period
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful Swedish sofa bench from the Gustavian period dry scraped to it's original patina. The sofa frame is adorned with a lovely leaf motif and rests upon tapered and fluted leg...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paint

Pair of Small Gustavian Style Bedside Chests
Located in Westwood, NJ
Bedside chests elegantly combine classical Swedish design elements with refined architectural details. The antique painted finish provides an authentic patina, while dental moldings ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Tall Black Antique Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This 19th century Swedish tall cabinet is finished in a rich, matte black with clean Gustavian lines and simple paneling, offering a dramatic yet timeless storage piece that blends e...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

8 Swedish Gustavian Style Original Painted Side Chairs
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique set of 8 - 100% Original painted Swedish Gustavian Style side chairs. all the seating have been restored and waiting for you to put your finished material on.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Birch

Reeded Swedish Gustavian Style Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
White/greyish hand painted Gustavian style chest of drawers constructed from solid wood with a hand-applied distressed finish with brass ring hardware. These classic Swedish style th...
Category

Early 2000s European Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early Scandinavian Pine Corner Cabinet Cupboard with Interior Domed Grotto
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredible large early bleached and natural pine corner cupboard having gorgeous domed interior grotto for display on the top half and two paneled doors below with storage inside. B...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Miniature Chest of Drawers with original paint Country
Located in Boden, SE
Original painted Scandinavian miniature chest of drawers from Luleå Norrbotten ,Northern Sweden This small miniature Gustavian 4 drawer dresser can be perfect as a storage of small ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Furniture

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Sofa with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A lovely small Gustavian sofa from Ersnäs Luleå, Northern Sweden . The sofa has untouched blue original paint. Nice model, very easy to place. Good storage under the lid. The sea...
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.

Recently Viewed

View All