Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Painted Slant Front Secretary with Three Drawers

A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood secretary from the late 18th century, with slant front desk, multiple drawers, dark painted interior, three drawers in the façade and rustic character. Created in Sweden during the last decade of the 18th century, this painted secretary showcases the stylistic traits typical of the Gustavian era. This period piece features a narrow rectangular top sitting above a slant front desk opening to reveal a dark painted interior. Multiple drawers, painted in a distressed black color, surround a central opening. The writing area comes to rest on two pull outs. The lower section presents three graduated drawers, fitted with brass ring pulls. The sides are plain and the back is, of course, unfinished. The secretary is painted in a soft color typical of the Swedish taste for light palettes aiming at brightening the rooms during the long and dark winters of Scandinavia. The ensemble is raised on four feet, bracketed in the front and straight in the back.

The Gustavian style takes its roots in the Louis XVI era. Swedish King Gustav III resided in 1771 in Paris, at the beginning stages of the Louis XVI style. There, he was inspired by French art and fashion. With that in his luggage, he had a strong desire to introduce something similar in Sweden. The country had Fine craftsmen with high quality craftsmanship, who produced a simple style with harmonious aesthetics. The Gustavian Style was born and has been in vogue ever since. It is incredibly popular, especially in England but also in France and in the USA. Price and age are of course inextricably linked, the older and rarer the higher the price!

With its clean lines, convenient design and great rustic character, this Swedish Gustavian period painted slant front secretary circa 1790 will make for a wonderful addition to any home, placed in a living room, study of bedroom.