Incollect Magazine - Issue 13

78 www.incollect.com 18th-century Gustavian corbeille sofa exhibits classical hallmarks of Gustavian design: tapered, fluted legs; balanced, symmetrical ornamentation; and a subtly scal- loped crest adorned with floral carving. The pale, softly distressed paint recalls the way Swedes historically used light colors to brighten the long winter months. From Maison de Provence on Incollect.com, photo courtesy Maison de Provence 19th-century Gustavian demi-lune commode with rouge marble top. Original molded bronze decorative panels, curved drawers, and doors. From Maison de Provence on Incollect.com, photo courtesy Maison de Provence Drottningholm and Gripsholm Castle. But its underlying stylistic ethos of elegance balanced with practicality proved surprisingly versatile, amenable to decorating Royal places as well as the homes of everyday people, and the style spread rapidly across Scandinavia and beyond. Gustavian style endures today in a ‘shabby chic’ sensibility popular with devotees of timeworn patinas, softer palettes, and neoclassical-inspired silhouettes. It is the inspiration for much of what you might find at Pottery Barn. James Adams, from Jacqueline Adams Antiques in Atlanta, a major dealer in the material, attributes the enduring popularity of Gustavian furniture as rooted in a timeless craving for craftsmanship and “quiet elegance” in design. “It’s a style that balances refinement and restraint, both pale and dark painted finishes, and sculptural silhouettes. It is elegant, but it never tries too hard, which is exactly why people love it,” he says. Adams says clients and designers are drawn frequently to the style for interior projects that require “a sense of history without the heaviness.” Touches of ornamentation are never excessive, he explains, “simply enough to catch the eye.” He also points to the versatility of the style within interiors, something echoed by many other dealers. “It can feel airy and delicate or bold and architectural, depending on how it’s used, that's why Gustavian