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Gustavian Asian Art and 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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Style: Gustavian
Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775
By Josua Lanner
Located in Charleston, SC
Swedish black lacquered and gilt Chinoiserie tall case clock with arched decorative floral hood, flanking finials, turned bulbous columns, ormolu and steel engraved face, figural flo...
Category

1770s Swedish Antique Gustavian Asian Art and Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Steel

Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775
Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775

Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775

$35,000
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Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
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19th Century Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock After Thomas Chippendale
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Antique English Chinoiserie Lacquer Grandfather Clock, Circa 1820-1840.
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H 98 in W 21 in D 10.5 in
Comtoise Morbier Tall Case Clock
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice Comtoise Morbier tall clock in a floral paint decorated Pine case, France - late 19th century. Rings on the hour and two minutes after the hour...
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H 97 in W 18 in D 8 in
Tall Case Amsterdam Clock, Signed Pieter Verlaer, circa 1840-1860
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Tall case Amsterdam clock. Signed Pieter Verlaer, Dutch, circa 1840-1860. walnut and burled walnut. Clock has an amazing dial with three ships that mov...
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Tall Case Amsterdam Clock, Signed Pieter Verlaer, circa 1840-1860
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$55,000
H 120 in W 27 in D 13.5 in
Original Blue Painted Tall Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1820-40
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Exceptional hand painted mora grandfather clock with original light blue painted finish accented in soft red and white trim. The warm aged patina on this 8' tall clock is what collec...
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Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Asian Art and Furniture

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Original Blue Painted Tall Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1820-40
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Original Blue Painted Tall Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock, circa 1820-40

$5,600
H 97.75 in W 20 in D 9.25 in
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Tall Case Closk
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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...
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H 101 in W 27 in D 9 in
Italian Red Grain Painted and Gilt Decorated Tall Case Clock, c1790
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This clock stands tall with original red grained paint and decorative gilt details. The works are early 18th century English with a calendar movement and are signed "Tanpium." The ca...
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Late 18th Century Italian Antique Gustavian Asian Art and Furniture

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Italian Red Grain Painted and Gilt Decorated Tall Case Clock, c1790
Italian Red Grain Painted and Gilt Decorated Tall Case Clock, c1790

Italian Red Grain Painted and Gilt Decorated Tall Case Clock, c1790

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H 95 in W 17.5 in D 12 in
English Oak Tall Case Clock
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H 90.5 in W 23.25 in D 11 in
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Gustavian asian art and furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian asian art and furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 18th Century and Earlier, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage asian art and furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with giltwood, lacquer and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian asian art and 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 asian art and furniture, popular names associated with this style include and Josua Lanner. 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 asian art and furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $35,000 and tops out at $35,000 while the average work can sell for $35,000.

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