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Gustavian Footstools

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
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Foot Stools in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A charming pair of Swedish benches from the early Gustavian period in original paint, circa 1780. These stools display beautiful carved egg and dart detail on the seat frame, rosette...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Foot Stools in Original Paint
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Foot Stools in Original Paint

18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Foot Stools in Original Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Taburettes/ Stools with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian Provincial taburettes / stools. Handscraped to its originalcolor. Beautiful fluted legs. The taburettes is reholstery in beautiful linen fabric. Th...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Taburettes/ Stools with Originalpaint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Taburettes/ Stools with Originalpaint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Taburettes/ Stools with Originalpaint

Pair of 19th Century Late Gustavian Footstools
Located in Huntington, NY
A beautiful pair of Swedish Late Gustavian footstools. Featuring a decorative hand-carved Guilloché scroll with reeded fleurons on the corners. Turned legs are tapered and fluted. Su...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paint

Pair of 19th Century Late Gustavian Footstools
Pair of 19th Century Late Gustavian Footstools

Pair of 19th Century Late Gustavian Footstools

Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools
Located in Huntington, NY
A rare pair of Gustavian footstools with Stockholm chairmaker’s seal on both. Frames are decorated with upright leaf cut. The corners meet in decorative medallions. The legs are fini...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paint

Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools
Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools

Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools

19th c . Swedish Gustavian Painted Stools Signed by Johannes Ericsson
Located in Wichita, KS
Beautifully carved pair of Swedish benches from the late Gustavian period, newly upholstered in linen with nailhead trim, circa 1830. Signed by Johannes Ericsson, 1803-1865, a chair ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Paint, Wood, Linen

19th c . Swedish Gustavian Painted Stools Signed by Johannes Ericsson
19th c . Swedish Gustavian Painted Stools Signed by Johannes Ericsson

19th c . Swedish Gustavian Painted Stools Signed by Johannes Ericsson

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Late Gustavian Footstools by Ephraim Ståhl
By Ephraim Stahl
Located in Huntington, NY
A beautiful pair of Late Gustavian footstools. In the style of Ephraim Ståhl. Rectangular frame with slight bowfront and back. Featuring a decorative hand-carved scroll with fleurons...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paint, Fabric

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Late Gustavian Footstools by Ephraim Ståhl
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Late Gustavian Footstools by Ephraim Ståhl

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Late Gustavian Footstools by Ephraim Ståhl

Pair of Swedish Neoclassic Painted Footstools
Located in Essex, MA
Each with carved seat rail with set in seat raised on carved legs headed by paterae and tapered with reeded tassel and fluting joined by a turned X-form stretcher.
Category

Early 1800s Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Other

Pair of Swedish Neoclassic Painted Footstools
Pair of Swedish Neoclassic Painted Footstools

Pair of Swedish Neoclassic Painted Footstools

Swedish Gustavian Round Stool
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian round stool, it has been restored and painted with milk paints "Oyster White". Seating recovered in Muslin. The seat spins around
Category

1920s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Birch

Swedish Gustavian Round Stool
Swedish Gustavian Round Stool

Swedish Gustavian Round Stool

French Painted "X" Rocking Bench with Linen Upholstery, circa 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French painted rocking stool that is newly upholstered in washed Belgium linen and finished with antique brass nailhead trim detail.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Gustavian Footstools

Materials

Brass

French Painted "X" Rocking Bench with Linen Upholstery, circa 1930s
French Painted "X" Rocking Bench with Linen Upholstery, circa 1930s

French Painted "X" Rocking Bench with Linen Upholstery, circa 1930s

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Previously Available Items
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Pair of 18th Century Swedish Rococo-Gustavian Footstools
Located in Huntington, NY
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H 17 in W 17 in D 16.75 in
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Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools
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H 18.9 in W 15.8 in D 15.8 in
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Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools
Pair of 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Footstools

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H 17.5 in W 16 in D 16 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Leather and Birch Stool
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19th Century Swedish Gustavian Leather and Birch Stool
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Leather and Birch Stool

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Leather and Birch Stool

H 16 in W 16 in D 16 in
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Located in Allentown, PA
This is an early 20th century Swedish gustavian style upholstered bench. This bench has a Swedish gray paint on the legs and apron with raised gold Painted empire details. This bench...
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Vintage Swedish Gustavian Style Upholstered Bench
Vintage Swedish Gustavian Style Upholstered Bench

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H 20.5 in W 45 in D 23 in
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Ottomans
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Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Ottomans
Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Ottomans

Pair of Antique Swedish Gustavian Ottomans

H 18.5 in W 17 in D 17 in
Pair of 18th Century Stockholm Footstools
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Period pair of 18th century Stockholm made pair of Gustavian footstools. Repainted in soft grey with decorative carved detailing to the stretchers and legs. Circa 1780.
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18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

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Pair of 18th Century Stockholm Footstools
Pair of 18th Century Stockholm Footstools

Pair of 18th Century Stockholm Footstools

H 16.93 in W 17.52 in D 15.56 in
Pair of 18th Century Swedish Footstools
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Period pair of 18th century Gustavian footstools. With decorative carved detailing on the stretchers and legs. Repainted in light grey and re-upholstered in linen.
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18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

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Wood

Pair of 18th Century Swedish Footstools
Pair of 18th Century Swedish Footstools

Pair of 18th Century Swedish Footstools

H 16.93 in W 16.34 in D 15.16 in
19th C. Swedish Gustavian Painted Window Seat Bench with Armrests
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare Swedish window bench in the Gustavian style newly upholstered in fine Belgian linen with padded armrests. The frame features beautifully carved a...
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19th C. Swedish Gustavian Painted Window Seat Bench with Armrests
19th C. Swedish Gustavian Painted Window Seat Bench with Armrests

19th C. Swedish Gustavian Painted Window Seat Bench with Armrests

H 26.75 in W 41.75 in D 15.75 in
Late Gustavian Swedish Painted Pine Footstool or Tabouret
Located in Kramfors, SE
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Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

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Late Gustavian Swedish Painted Pine Footstool or Tabouret
Late Gustavian Swedish Painted Pine Footstool or Tabouret

Late Gustavian Swedish Painted Pine Footstool or Tabouret

H 25.6 in W 23.23 in D 17.33 in
19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Period Stool in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful pair of Swedish footstools from the Gustavian period. These stools have been hand-scraped to reveal the original paint. There are carved bell flowers on the seat frame wi...
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19th Century Swedish Antique Gustavian Footstools

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19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Period Stool in Original Paint
19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Period Stool in Original Paint

19th Century Pair of Swedish Gustavian Period Stool in Original Paint

H 18.13 in W 17.32 in D 15.36 in

Gustavian footstools for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Gustavian footstools for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage footstools created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Gustavian footstools made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 footstools differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $575 and tops out at $7,300 while the average work can sell for $3,850.

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