Incollect Magazine - Issue 13

Incollect Magazine 83 popular today. Among her current offerings is an inviting, elegant Gustavian sofa that features “slightly outward curved neoclassical arms with the high back centered by a cartouche displaying an opposing pair of neoclassical sphinxes referencing Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign.” Daniel Larsson from D. Larsson, a major dealer in Gustavian style antiques in Sweden, says that while Gustavian style has been in vogue for some time, he’s starting to see more people gravitating toward the higher-end pieces, especially those that still have their original finish. “There’s just something special about these pieces,” he says. “They bring a sense of calm and quiet sophistication to a room that my clients really connect with. The clean lines, soft neutral tones, and that understated charm all work together to create a look that feels rooted in tradition but still totally at home in a contemporary setting.” Larsson has several exceptional pieces in inventory, among them a pair of 19th-century Gustavian gilt wood chairs with hoof feet signed by Ephraim Sthal (1767–1820), who was a “supplier to the Royal Court and one of the most sophisticated and inventive makers of his period,” Larsson explains. “They are extra special as it's a rare model with hoof feet on both back and front legs. I have only ever seen this one pair,” he says. Terri Goldsmith of Maison de Provence in New Orleans, a prominent dealer in Gustavian, French, and Italian antiques, is also experiencing increased demand for Gustavian pieces. “You’ll often find Gustavian pieces anchoring interiors where life unfolds slowly and intentionally,” she says, “they work well in homes where the patina of age is celebrated rather than disguised, homes that are filled with natural light. Calm spaces that lean into texture and natural materials rather than color are also a good fit for Gustavian pieces. They live well alongside Provençal, Belgian, and Nordic influences.” Important pieces in her current inventory include a demilune commode that, she says, “captures the timeless elegance at the heart of Swedish design. Its gently bowed front creates a soft, gracious profile, while the carved swags and geometric frieze introduce a note of classical refinement — ornament used thoughtfully, with restraint and sophistication. The marble top adds a beautiful sense of material texture and richness. Its warm veining plays quietly against the painted finish below, which has mellowed over time into a velvety, luminous patina.” Function and beauty are especially well-balanced in the design of this striking commode, where the two central drawers offer easy, accessible storage, and the flanking cabinets provide space to keep additional items neatly out of view. Goldsmith loves the tapered legs on the piece, which lift the design, “giving it an airier presence, so it sits gracefully within a room rather than dominating it,” she says. “This commode has the versatility to Left: Swedish Gustavian style black-painted pine commode with brass hardware, one of a pair. 1900–1910, Sweden. Right: Swedish Gustavian style settee with carved rails, arms and apron, 1900–1910, Sweden. From Jacqueline Adams Antiques on Incollect.com. Photos by Claudia McDade for Jacqueline Adams Antiques.