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.
Circa 1800 Swedish Gustavian gilt mirror with blue detail
Located in London, GB
A charming late Gustavian Swedish gilt mirror. The weathered mirror glass is in two sections with a crescent insert at the top in a painted pastel blue with gilt flower detail and pa...
Giltwood
Swedish Gustavian Period Gilt Pier Mirror with Ribbon & Foliate Swag Decoration
Located in Milford, NH
A Swedish Gustavian Period gilt pier mirror with pierce carved ribbon and foliate crest decoration, accented with foliate swags, continued on the beveled mirror surround and base. Da...
Gesso, Glass, Wood
Gustavian 18th Century Giltwood Mirror with Gouaches
Located in Stockholm, SE
A fine gustavian gilt wood mirror with gouaches made in Stockholm c. 1790. Original gilding. The gouaches painted in the neoclassical pompeian style.
Mirror, Giltwood
Gustavian Italian Wall, Console Mirror, Cornucopia Motif, Parcel Gilt Decorated
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Gustavian Italian wall, console mirror, Cornucopia Motif, Parcel Gilt Decorated A finely carved and paint decorated wall or console mirror. Late 19th Early 20th century having a mint green paint...
Mirror, Wood
18th Century Gustavian Mirror, Sweden 1780
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite 18th century Gustavian mirror, Stockholm circa 1780. Mahogany, carved and partly gilded. The Swedish Gustavian Style was named after King Gustav III of Sweden (reign 1771-92). Gustav III visited the French Court during the reign of Louis XVI several times and loved the French neoclassical...
Mahogany
Very Fine Gustavian Period Giltwood Pier Mirror, Swedish Circa 1800
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The very fine water-gilded frame showing an architectural cornice above a rectangular frieze decorated with burnished relief moulded neoclassical motifs, surmounting a very old recta...
Giltwood, Mirror
Late Gustavian Early 19th Century Giltwood Eagle Console Table and Mirror
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very attractive early 19th century giltwood console table with a fully carved eagle supporting the white marble top. A matching mi...
Marble
Gustavian Neoclassical Console Table and Mirror, Sweden, Early 19th Century
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very decorative set of a Gustavian demilune console table with white marble top and matching pier mirror, signed by one of the leading Stockholm makers Lars Magnus Thiem, (1782-1814)...
Marble
$2,080Sale Price|35% Off
H 49.5 in W 21.25 in D 0.75 in
Mid Century Brass Wall Mirror with Starburst Motif, 1960s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 1960s mid-century modern wall mirror in rectangular form comprising a segmented brass frame with the top glass bearing a sunburst motif. Clean and understated, it works beautifully...
Brass
$20,423 / set
H 91.34 in W 33.47 in D 17.72 in
Gustavian Neoclassical Console Table and Mirror, Sweden, Early 19th Century
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very decorative set of a Gustavian demilune console table with white marble top and matching pier mirror, signed by one of the leading Stockholm makers Lars Magnus Thiem, (1782-1814)...
Marble
Large Venetian Style Octagonal Mirror with Brass Details
Located in Barcelona, ES
Venetian Modern Octagonal Wall Mirror with Brass Frame Venetian style octagonal wall mirror with gilt metal accents, Spain, 1960s This octagonal mirror has a triple mirror frame. Two tiers of mosaic small mirror pieces and a central layer of larger pieces of mirror. The mirrored panels are adorned by brass metal patterns. This wall mirror will be perfect in a contemporary or classical ambiance as it has a nice classic / modern balance. Very elegant placed in a bathroom, powder room, dressing room or bedroom. Also gorgeous as a console mirror. Measures: 89 cm H x 63 cm W The central glass is : 72,5 cm H x 46 cm W We are specialists in mirrors and sunburst mirrors: A curated selection is avaliable at our 1stdibs marketplace. Octagonal Venetian Style Mirror // Venetian Modern Octagon Wall Mirror with Brass Details // Octagonal Midcentury Mirror
Brass, Metal
$2,697Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 25.6 in D 1.38 in
Venetian Modern Rectangular Mirror with Brass Details
Located in Barcelona, ES
Venetian style rectangular wall mirror with round corners and gilt metal accents, Spain, 1960s This wall mirror has a triple mirror frame with rectangular shape and rounded corners. ...
Metal, Brass
18th Century Carved Giltwood Mirror with Eagle, Roses and Leaves
Located in Pembroke, MA
18th century Italian giltwood mirror with hand carved eagle, roses, leaves and other details. The carving around outer perimeter of the mirror to really highlight the details. Appear...
Gold Leaf
Louis XVI Period Giltwood Mirror with Crest, France, circa 1780
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Louis XVI period giltwood mirror, surmounted by a detailed crest featuring kissing doves, and flanked by foliate swags along each side. The rectangular mirror plate in two sections...
Mirror, Giltwood
$3,441
H 32.29 in W 22.64 in D 1.38 in
Venetian Modern Rectangular Mirror with Blue Glasses and Brass Details
Located in Barcelona, ES
Venetian style rectangular wall mirror with blue iridiscent mirror glass panels and gilt metal accents, Spain, 1960s This wall mirror has a double layered glass frame with rectangula...
Brass
German 18th Century Rococo Mirror, Bavaria, White Painted
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very charming German 18th century period Rococo mirror. Beautifully carved with c-scrolls and flower buds, white and polychrome painted. Antique mirror plate and orginal back.
Wood
$7,800
H 27.96 in W 12.41 in D 1.19 in
18th Century Gustavian Sconce Mirror with Center Cameo, Sweden, Circa 1780
Located in New York, NY
18th century Swedish Gustavian single arm candle sconce mirror with center cameo, origin: Sweden, circa 1780 In Scandinavia, candlelight is an important element found in any interio...
Giltwood
$3,985
H 44.5 in W 19 in D 3.5 in
Swedish Gilded Mirror, circa 1820 with Arched Crest and Flanking Half Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early 19th century Swedish gilded mirror, circa 1820. This mirror features an arched crest and flanking fluted half columns. There are two li...
Wood
Italian Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Montreal, QC
Italian Rococo gilt and carved wood mirror.
Giltwood
French Gilt Mirror with Doors
Located in Hudson, NY
French gilt mirror with doors, French mirror purchased in Japan, with doors that close and beautifully gilded framing. Includes original mirror with ...
Mirror, Giltwood
Swedish Paint Decorated, Parcel-Gilt, Large Wall Mirror, France, 19th c.
Located in Stamford, CT
Swedish Grey Paint Decorated, Parcel-Gilt, Large Wall, Console, Pier Mirror, France, 19th c. French parcel-gilt painted Swedish mirror with carved figures. This is a truly magnifice...
Mirror, Wood
Rustic 19th Century Louis Philippe Style Mirror
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully rustic paint decorated arch top mirror. The simple elegant style of the mirror has great character and patina and lends itself to suit most decor including Swedish Gustav...
Wood
Sold
H 54.5 in W 30.5 in D 3.5 in
Swedish Late Gustavian, Early Empire Giltwood Trumeau Form Mirror, circa 1810
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Circa 1810 Swedish late Gustavian / early Empire period neoclassical pier mirror of trumeau form having acanthus leaf ogee cornice surmounting frieze with radiating lyre (harp) design centered between acanthus leaf appliques; the original rectangular glass mirror...
Glass, Giltwood
Sold
H 41.75 in W 22.75 in D 2 in
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Mirror with Carved Rosettes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood mirror from the 19th century, with dentil molding and carved foliage. Created in Sweden during the 19th century, this painted wood mirror featu...
Mirror, Wood
Gustavian Mirror Attributed to Joseph Schürer
Located in Stockholm, SE
A Gustavian carved giltwood mirror attributed to Joseph Schürer, (1727-1785) with the mirrors guild mark Stockholm 177. The gilding in worn original state.
Mirror, Wood
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Mirrors with Grey Blue Paint
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of elegant and decorative Gustavian mirrors. Later professionally repainted in antique blue and gray colors. Adorned with fabulous animals and garlands. Sweden, circa 1810 So...
Wood
Neoclassical Style Painted Full-Length Dressing Mirror
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pier mirror has a rounded top, embellished with a repeat pattern of tiny bay berries and leaves. Can be used as a dressing or full length. Will work in most any decoration style,...
Mirror, Wood
18th Century Gustavian Mirror by Spegelmaker Anders Malmqvist
By Anders Malmqvist
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Important Gustavian mirror, Sweden, circa 1776. Stamped by Anders Malmqvist, mirror maker in Kalmar 1773-1778, and with Kalmar guilds' stamp, the so called “hallstempel”. Carved and ...
Giltwood
Late Gustavian Mirror Attributed to Pehr Ljung, circa 1800
By Per Ljungs Art
Located in Stockholm, SE
A late Gustavian mirror attributed to Pehr Ljung, Stockholm (1743-1819) from circa 1800.
Giltwood
Late Gustavian Mirror by Per Ljung, Stockholm
By Per Ljungs Art
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very fine late Gustavian giltwood mirror by Per Ljung (1743-1819), Stockholm. Original gilding and glass, circa 1800. Per Ljung was one of the best of his time and had many royal c...
Giltwood
Fine Gustavian Giltwood Mirror Signed Johan Åkerblad, Stockholm
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very fine Gustavian carved giltwood mirror signed by Johan Åkerblad (1728-1799). The gilding and the glass is original. Åkerblad was one of the leadin...
Giltwood
Fine Gustavian Giltwood Mirror by Johan Åkerblad, Stockholm
By Johan åkerblad
Located in Stockholm, SE
A fine carved giltwood mirror by Johan Åkerblad circa 1780-1790, Stockholm. The mirror has it´s original gilding and original glass. Åkerblad was one of the leading mirror makers of ...
Giltwood