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.
Mid-20th Century Gustavian Chandelier, Painted Wood & Iron, Sweden
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental size eight light wood & iron chandelier. The chandelier is painted a dove gray coloration. The iron has developed a beautiful patina. The fixture is newly rewired and ...
Paint, Wood
19th c. Swedish Gustavian Crystal Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th c. Swedish Gustavian Crystal Chandelier is a stunning and elegant lighting fixture. Featuring a decorative bronze base and layers of glistening crystals. Sure to be a beaut...
Crystal, Bronze
Swedish Gustavian Style Crystal Six-Light Chandelier, 19th Century
Located in Brentwood, TN
A Swedish Gustavian style crystal chandelier, 19th century, featuring a classic tiered form adorned with cut crystal prisms in drop, oval, and square shapes. The central crown ring i...
Crystal, Metal
$18,800
Gustavian Chandelier
Located in Greenwich, CT
Elegant and decorative early 19th century Gustavian neoclassical eight-light chandelier, having cranberry, amber and clear crystal drops, the frame and arms decorated with repousse l...
Crystal, Brass
20th century Gustavian style gilt brass and crystal chandelier 'Hagamodel'
Located in Eindhoven, NL
An elegant and fine Gustavian style chandeliers with 8 small lights inside the chandelier. Beautiful quality in gilt brass. Decorated with c...
Crystal, Brass
Early 19th c. Swedish Crystal Chandelier with Gilt Metal Ferns
Located in Greenwich, CT
A refined and elegant early 19th century Swedish chandelier having crystal swagged garlands on a gilt metal frame featuring gilt metal fern leaves. A topmost crown of fern leaves wi...
Bronze
18th/19th Century Cranberry and Glass Lantern with Gilt Metal and Cut Glass
Located in Stamford, CT
A large cranberry glass and gilt metal lantern / chandelier composed of late 18th century and early 19th century parts. Having been in its current at least since 1969. Acquired from Denton-Grant, 1969. Christies - Collection of Anthony Hail...
Blown Glass
Fine Pair of Swedish Early 19th Century Gustavian Chandeliers
Located in Allerum, SE
Important pair of Swedish early 19th century Gustavian chandeliers. Very rare with identical pairs in this quality. Ca 1800.
Crystal, Brass
19th Century, Small Swedish Gustavian-style Chandelier with Gilded Brass Frame
Located in Madrid, EX
19th Century Small Gustavian chandelier with six curved candle arms and hung with beautiful crystals. Sweden Height: 76 cm Diameter: 60 cm
Crystal, Brass
Late 18th Century Gustavian Chandelier
Located in Ljungby, SE
A late Gustavian chandelier crafted in Stockholm at the end of the 18th century. The chandelier features four arms for candles and a frame made of fire-gilded bronze. Its elegance is...
Bronze
Antique Swedish 6-Arm Chandelier
Located in Sheffield, MA
Large, elegant and impressive, newly restored antique Swedish Gustavian style chandelier with 6 scrolled arms and gold hanging wood and mult...
Wood
Late 18th Century Late-Gustavian Chandelier with Blue Bowl
Located in Ljungby, SE
A late-Gustavian chandelier with a blue bowl, made in Stockholm in the 1790s. The burnished gilded central ring is decorated with lion mask carvings. The ring features six light arms...
Bronze
Late-Gustavian Chandelier with Blue Bowl
Located in Ljungby, SE
A high-quality late-Gustavian chandelier with six arms. The burnished gilded central ring is adorned with lion mask carvings and fleurons. The top features a so-called "bishop's mitr...
Brass
19th Century Baccarat Crystal Chandelier Five-Light Chandelier
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A lovely antique Baccarat crystal electrified chandelier, gilt brass beautifully decorated with several tiers of large pendaloques in different shapes and sizes, finishing at the bot...
Crystal, Brass
Antique Chandelier. Iron Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Six light French Provincial style iron chandelier. CW4328
Iron
20th Century Italian Vintage Chandelier in Painted Iron
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Nice Italian vintage chandelier in forged iron 3-light, 1930s. Floral decoration with delicate roses sprouting from loose leaves. The iron is painted in light green and different del...
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Painted Iron and Tole Chandelier with Flowers
Located in Antwerp, BE
This elegant, vintage chandelier was crafted in Italy, circa 1950. The charming hanging light fixture has six lights and is embellished with realistic flowers and green leaves. The r...
Metal
Italian Gold Gilded Iron, Wood, and Tole Chandelier, Mid-20th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
This beautiful Italian chandelier is made of gilded (gold leaf covered) Iron, hand painted wood, and tole. The piece dates back to the mid-20th century and features a lovely spiral aesthetic along its center stem. Decorative furling leaves drape around its arms and centers, along with a beautifully decorated base. Each piece in our shop is professionally rewired and in working order. Each chandelier and lantern comes with a vintage canopy, three feet of chain, and ample wire, and each sconce comes with all materials needed to mount. Each piece is newly wired with UL approved wire and sockets and is fully operable. The piece is part of the collection from The French Antique Shop...
Iron
19th Century Gilt Bronze and Crystal Six Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Antique (late 19th century) six light chandelier in the neoclassical style crafted from gilt bronze and crystal glass, electrified with candelabra size sockets and wiring, ready for ...
Bronze
19th Century Italian Empire Style Gilt Metal and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning 19th century Italian Empire style gilt metal and crystal chandelier with 6 lights. Beautiful basket shape with gorgeous crystals. Creates an elegant image!
Crystal, Metal
20th century French Crystal and Gilded Brass Chandelier, 1950s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Superb crystal pendant chandelier from the 1950s, offering a refined and luminous presence, ideal for enhancing an elegant Haussmann-style interior, a classic setting, or a chic ecle...
Crystal, Brass
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Chandelier
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Swedish folk art Chandelier in it's original condition. Turned and painted wood and metal. Ca 1800 - 1850 Sweden.
Iron
$850
H 29 in W 22.5 in D 11.5 in
Scandinavian Polychromed Wood and Iron Chandelier, Early 20th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
Scandinavian Polychrome Painted Carved Wood and Wrought Iron Four Light Chandelier, with gilt-decorated "Skon by Skaber Ry" plaque to center. 29" H x 22.5" W x 11.5" D. Provenance:...
Metal
Rustic Adirondack Chandelier, Wood and Iron, Early 20th Century, USA
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Adirondack-style (1st Quarter 20th Century) chandelier with two crossed logs supporting 8 drop lights and 4 iron chains connected to a canopy.
Iron
20th Century French Wrought Iron Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 20th-century French wrought iron chandelier exemplifies rustic elegance with its sturdy construction and artisanal design. Featuring a linear frame suspended by heavy iron chain...
Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Italian Tole And Pine Swedish Inspired 6 Arm Chandelier
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a charming mid-century Italian tole and pine Gustavian inspired chandelier. It has 6 arms. The chain is about 16 inches, and the cap diameter is five inches. All fixtures re...
Metal
Swedish Gustavian Crystal and Gilt Brass Chandelier
Located in Greenwich, CT
An elegant Gustavian crystal and gilt brass Swedish chandelier with two fountain-like tiers of faceted crystals over a central drop to an elaborate brass ring decorated with Egyptian...
Crystal, Brass
A pair of gilt brass and crystal Gustavian style antique chandeliers
Located in Eindhoven, NL
An elegant pair Gustavian style chandeliers. Each with 7 lights: 5 lights around the chandelier and 2 small lights inside. Beautiful quality in gilt brass. Decorated with cut crystal...
Crystal, Brass
Sold
H 34.5 in Dm 27.5 in
Swedish, 1810s Gustavian Period Five-Light Crystal and Brass Basket Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period five-light crystal chandelier from the early 19th century, with brass armature, spear crystals and floral motifs. Created in Sweden during the first decade...
Crystal, Brass
Unique Hand-Carved Custom Swedish Whitewashed Wooden Lodge Chandelier
Located in Leesburg, VA
Anonymous 20th century; Sweden Wood (possibly pinewood), iron Approximate size: 54 (h) x 26 (w) x 26 (d) in. This one-of-a-kind hand-carved and white washed wooden chandelier featu...
Pine
Antique French Gray Louis XVI Gustavian Style Chandelier
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French Gray Louis XVI Gustavian Style Chandelier
Wood
Sold
H 22.05 in Dm 24.41 in
Hans Bergström Attributed Five Arm Chandelier in Brass, ASEA, Sweden, 1950s
By Hans Bergström, ASEA
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare five arm chandelier was produced by ASEA in Sweden in the early 1950s. The lamp consists of a brass stem, five arms and fittings with matte opaline glass shades. The zigzag...
Brass
1930s Swedish Carved Wood Painted Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
6-light 1930s Swedish wood carved chandelier. The chandelier is painted in a distressed creamy grayish coloration. The fixture has six iron arms. It is newly rewired with drip wax candle covers...
Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
“Svera” Hanging Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Markaryd Sweden, 1970's
By Svera
Located in Delft, NL
In good original condition with original paint. The inner side shows a bit of discoloration of the paint and the orange paint has some scratches and patina see photos.
Aluminum
Swedish Gustavian Crystal Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful, vintage Swedish crystal chandelier in the Gustavian style. The chandelier consists of a polished brass frame decorated ...
Crystal, Brass
Northern European Neoclassical Basket Chandelier
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine early 19th century bronze and cut crystal chandelier having a repoussé brass crown without-swept branches with alternating long and short drop strands of cut oval crystals, over...
Brass
Gustavian Chandelier, Sweden, Late 18th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
A really unusual Gustavian chandelier made circa year 1800. This is the best quality of this period that exists and in a great condition. The shape and proportions are typical Swedis...
Crystal, Brass