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Gustavian Decorative Objects

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 Mora Clock White Castle Crown Carved Detail Early 1800 Frkysdall Antique
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish mora clock in white paint and gold detailing with very unusual and rare hood ornamentation and highly decorative face, lovely star round moti...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Swedish Mora Clock White Castle Crown Carved Detail Early 1800 Frkysdall Antique
Swedish Mora Clock White Castle Crown Carved Detail Early 1800 Frkysdall Antique

Swedish Mora Clock White Castle Crown Carved Detail Early 1800 Frkysdall Antique

$3,211 Sale Price
40% Off
Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Gray Marble Brass, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian neoclassical gray marble brass, Sweden. A pair of gorgeous white marble candlesticks made during the Gustavian period. Column shaped with polished bras...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Gray Marble Brass, Sweden
Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Gray Marble Brass, Sweden

Candlesticks Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Gray Marble Brass, Sweden

$4,500
19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 19th century Swedish floor clock. This antique clock from Sweden is simple and unassuming with it's round-shaped head, minimally adorn with a curved top crest, an elongated neck mo...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments
19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments

19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Floor Clock, Soft with Minimal Embellishments

$5,620
Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Style Painted Lyre Form Jardinière or Planter
Located in Essex, MA
Gustavian style painted and distressed Lyre form planter. In the neoclassical taste. Wonderfully dovetailed and distressed. Quite charming.
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Style Painted Lyre Form Jardinière or Planter
Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Style Painted Lyre Form Jardinière or Planter

Swedish Gustavian Neoclassical Style Painted Lyre Form Jardinière or Planter

$3,200
19th Century Swedish Column Clock
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 19th Century Swedish column clock with original painted decoration. This clock has a lovely elegant shape, with unusual scrolled decoration to the neck. It has been dry-scraped to its original paint that is rich in patina and graining. A unique and beautiful clock, that will have a powerful presence in any interior. PLEASE NOTE: The clocks we sell are decorative and are not guaranteed to be in working order. If you require the clock to be in working order, we can recommend an antique clock...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Column Clock
19th Century Swedish Column Clock

19th Century Swedish Column Clock

$7,837
Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very decorative Swedish longcase clock from the Gustavian period painted in a cream white with giltwood decoration. The dial is signed by the St...
Category

1770s Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century
Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century

Gustavian white painted Longcase Clock Mathias Kullberg Stockholm 18th century

$16,035
18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar
Located in Bozeman, MT
Rare 18th century clay mortar, ca 1790 Sweden.
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Clay

18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar
18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar

18th Century Swedish Clay Mortar

$1,700
Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A
Located in Lewes, England
Shipping special update - We have negotiated a special flat rate shipping cost to the USA with our main US shipping partner for our 1st dibs clients of only £995 export crated by ai...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A
Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A

Swedish Mora Clock Fryksdall White Gold Scroll Motif Antique Grandfather A

$3,010 Sale Price
43% Off
Painted Wooden Toy Horse
Located in Washington, DC
A painted wooden toy horse.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Painted Wooden Toy Horse
Painted Wooden Toy Horse

Painted Wooden Toy Horse

$3,800
Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780
Located in New York, NY
Unusual pair of Gustavian corner clock cabinets, origin: Mora, Sweden, circa 1780 Each cabinet with matching working, tall case clocks decorated with four fluted diamond patterns an...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Paint

Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780
Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780

Unusual Pair of Gustavian Corner Clock Cabinets, Origin Mora, Sweden, Circa 1780

Price Upon Request

Gustavian decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Carl A. Carlsson, Eric Ernander, Helle Allpass, and Henrik Beurling. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $35,000 while the average work can sell for $2,891.

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