“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”-Charles Caleb
Colton
You know how sometimes when you go to a party at someone’s
house and you say to your husband, “This is exactly the kind of house that I
like and when we get home, we are throwing away everything that we have and
starting over and we are going to make it just like this house.”
Well, that is exactly what King Gustav III of Sweden did
after he visited King Louis XVI and the royal palace of Versailles in the 1700s. He
so liked what he saw at the palace that he wanted to adopt the Neoclassical
style, bring it back to his own country and add a Swedish touch to it. What a
king wants, a king gets (interesting, the same goes at our house) and voilà,
hundreds of years later, we have Swedish Gustavian furniture, the “Paris of the
North.”
The style moved from the royal palaces of Sweden, to the
well-to-do townhouses and eventually out to the country houses. The structures/bones
remained the same but the colors became muted and this is the fashion that most
people are familiar with today. The hushed greys, milky whites and pale blues
provided a reflective light in contrast to the harsh dark winters of Sweden.
This brings us to today’s sale item… A Swedish Gustavian Bench/Sofa.
Hallå!
Let’s look at a little inspiration first, as usual, via my
Swedish Gustavian Pinterest board…
Doesn’t that just brighten your day? Now, truth be told, I
only like a little hint of Swedish Gustavian. Not the whole house, for God
sake. Just a touch of Swedish Gustavian, like a bench, a desk or a Mora clock,
will add just the right bit of interest to any style of house.
And I have the perfect piece for sale! Check it out…
Swedish
Gustavian Bench/Sofa
Exceptional Upholstered 19th century Gustavian Bench with four pillows
(two with trim). Lambs tongue decoration. Carved and fluted legs.
Price: priced to sell at $4200
Place of Origin: Sweden
In the Style of: Gustavian
Materials: Wood, Linen (brand-new upholstery)
Period: early 19th century
Condition: Very Good
Wear: Wear consistent with age and use. Very slight minor 1 inch wood
damage on frame.
Height: approximately 3 feet
Length: 6’ 2 3/8 inch
Number of Items: 1
Location of Item: Los Angeles, California USA
If the fabric doesn’t tickle your fancy, no big deal, just
change it out. Do you want to see some of my suggestions for fabric?
A creamy white linen is always chic. 
You could also use a beautiful blue/gray velvet.
Typical prices for these antique benches/sofas range from $5000-$12,000.
To compare prices, check out similar offerings at 1stdibs.com HERE.
If you would like some more inspiration, you can see my
entire Swedish Gustavian Pinterest board HERE.
So, this beautiful Gustavian bench is the third item for the
sale. If you have any questions, just email me at havesomedecorum@gmail.com. If
you would like to purchase the bench, just email me at the same email address,
havesomedecorum@gmail.com, and put the title of the piece in the subject line.
This is a first come first serve basis and I promise I will not play favorites
(unless it’s Princess Caroline of Monaco… Obviously). You can pay with either
PayPal or Wells Fargo Bank deposit. You can pick them up or arrange transport
for them. If you need to ship them long-distance, I use a company called
Vintage Transport.
So there we have it, day three of the sale. Stay tuned for
the next piece. Hint: Mother-Of-Pearl.
