| In recent years,the classic clean lines and true | | | | gold gilt or white and gold, the sofas would be very |
| elegance of antique Swedish Gustavian furniture have | | | | detailed in appointments and wonderfully handcarved. |
| become very popular. They have a life and a | | | | As they were on display in the public entertaining |
| refinement that excites the eye and the patina that | | | | rooms they would be upholstered in sumptious |
| has built up as part of the finish over years of use | | | | fabrics and stuffed with horse hair that mad tehm |
| lends them a sense of authenticity amongst today's | | | | exceptionally comfortable They can be found in 2-8 |
| mire of reproductions.So how did it begin and where | | | | seater sizes if you look at Gustavian Chests of |
| did the influences come from? The Gustavian period | | | | Drawers meanwhile they are chunky in build and |
| (1772-1792) followed the more florid excesses of the | | | | usually painted. They have fairly plain handles and |
| earlier swedish Rococo stylings under the patronage | | | | escutcheons and are often made from pine. Unlike |
| of King Carl Gustav III who had returned from an | | | | modern pine, this wood is heavy and you get good |
| extended stay at the court of Louis XVI at Versailles. | | | | storage space in the drawers. |
| He travelled there as a young man and was heavily | | | | The traditional 3 drawer version is approx 110cm |
| influenced by the pomp and glamour associated with | | | | wide x 92 cm tall finally the kurbits folk art style |
| the court of King Louis. In typical swedish fashion, | | | | developed in the Dalarna region of central Sweden |
| the excesses of the french court were toned down | | | | from around 1700-the mid 1800s. Its decorative style |
| and created a much more muted and elegant styling | | | | and floral motif adorned a variety of rustic pine |
| that we see so much of today. | | | | storage, beds, mora clocks, and cabinets. Often given |
| The classic greys and off whites of the Gustavian | | | | as wedding presents, they would be pride of place in |
| colour palette set off the striking use of gold gilt | | | | small village 'stugas' and provided a riot of colour and |
| most elegantly. While most people are familiar with | | | | detail in the otherwise rough hewn pine of village life. |
| grey Gustavian minimalism, the Gustavian public | | | | The 'Kurbits' style is a freehand pattern to which |
| entertaining rooms were awash with amazing | | | | every artist contributed their own individual feeling. It |
| giltwood sofas,chairs,mirrors,chairs and cabinets in a | | | | is now very hard to find anyone who can master the |
| swedish interpretation of the more ostentatious | | | | intricate swoops and swirls created by these C.18th |
| french Louis XVI styling. You may also recognise the | | | | century craftsmen and women. Usually painted in an |
| classic ribbed front pattern that appears on many | | | | array of browns, ochres,yellow reds and oranges, |
| grey/white gustavian cabinets as an intricate part of | | | | you may also find it occasionally in aquamarines and |
| the design. Also the classic gustavian sofa draws | | | | shades of blue and turquoise. |
| heavily on the french louis xvi style. Very often in | | | | |