Swedish Antiques Master Class presented by Toma Clark Haines The Antiques Diva at Dallas Market Center

Swedish Antiques Master Class
Dallas Market Center
June Market 2017

Toma Clark Haines – CEO The Antiques Diva & Co
Daniel Larsson – D Larsson Antiques & Interiors

◇In the 18th C the government
instigated a ban on the import
on furniture thus igniting one
of the greatest cultural
contributions to the history of
furniture making.
◇As a result of the ban - national
furniture making took off
creating Masterpieces that
would change the history of
antiques.
The Golden Age
Today we’re going to be talking to you about the Golden Age
of Antiques.

The Golden Age
In the 18th century there were 3 important Swedish furniture periods

In case you think this is going to be a
boring class about the history of
furniture… I should warn you… “this is
not your grandmothers antiques
class!”
At The Antiques Diva & Co our mission
is to Make Antiques Fun, Sexy,
Relevant and Modern.
Swedish Antiques help us achieve our
goal more so than any other of our
antiques buying tours!

◇ The Antiques Diva & Co is the largest antiques
touring company in the world
◇ We offer one-on-one customized antique
buying tours on 3 continents – EUROPE, ASIA
and USA and 15 countries
France
Belgium
Holland
Germany
Netherlands
Italy
Denmark
Sweden
◇ We also have our own in-house shipping
division called AD&CO Logistics
◇ And we’re working on developing our own
line of furniture care and restoration products
Thailand
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Myanmar
Indonesia
USA

MEET SOME OF THE ANTIQUES DIVA TEAM – YOUR DIVA GUIDES

D.Larsson Interiör & Antikhandel specialises in
18th - 19th century Swedish painted antiques
carefully selected by their high quality,
distinquished design, uniqueness and
remarkable finish.
Along the years they have had the privilege to
work with many of the world’s leading
architects, interior designers as well as with
private collectors.
Their clients know that the fact that we live
and work in Sweden we have the possibility to
source the best items Sweden has to offer.
Their Showroom in Helsingborg, Sweden is
located in a historic mid-19th century building
in the oldest neighborhood of Helsingborg.Daniel Larsson
D. Larsson Swedish Antiques
Antiques Diva – er make that Divo Guide

Modern Vibe
Jill Dienst - Antiques Dealer’s Scandinavian-Inspired New York City Home in Architectural Digest

”Put your money where your mouth is…”
Antiques Diva Headquarters
Making Antiques Modern

◇ The Golden Age
◇ The most important Swedish furniture
styles and periods
◇ Stockholm pieces vs. Manor vs. Folk
Art
◇ Transitional Pieces
◇ Original Paint
◇ Fakes
◇ Period vs. Style
Outline

◇ The end of King Karl the XII's wars and
the King's death in 1718, contributed to
a period of peace in the country, the
economy flourished and prosperity
increased.
◇ Those who could afford it, put down
large sums of money to decorate and
beautify their homes.
◇ During the first half of the 18th century
a significant amount of furniture was
imported, mainly from England.
◇ To support the domestic carpenters and
carvers the Swedish government
decided to ban the importation of
furniture in 1731.
The Golden Age

◇ The peace, prosperity and ban
contributed to an unprecedented
development of indigenous
furniture making, having its
apogee during the second half of
18th the century.
◇Never before or since have the
artisans been so prolific and
skillful.
◇This was the period when furniture
design and construction evolved
into fine art.
◇Today the 18th century is generally
regarded as the "golden age" of
antique Swedish furniture.
The Golden Age

The Golden Age
STOCKHOLM PIECES VS PROVINCIAL

The three most important furniture styles and periods in Sweden

◇Baroque was popular on the continent during the 17th century.
◇The style did not reach Sweden until after the Thirty Year War with
Russia, around the year 1650.
◇This made the style last longer than on the continent.
Baroque 1650 – 1750

Historical Context
Baroque 1650 – 1750
◇ Let’s put this in perspective…. What else was happening in the world at this time?
◇ American was being colonized. 1607 to 1735 the 13 colonies were settled
◇ In France Louix XIV had become King 1643-he was known as the Sun King and moved into
Versailles.
◇ Louis XIV dies in 1715 and Louis XV who brings the Rococo style comes to the throne.

French Comparison
French Louis XIII

Baroque
VALUE ALERT:
◇ Because the Late Baroque pieces
are trending… that means these
heavier pieces are under priced.
◇ You can find a huge cabinet for
relatively nothing compared to
what they use to cost.
◇ While difficult to place due to size
you can get a great value compared
to what they were 15 years ago.
◇ For example, 3K today compared
15-20K 15 years ago.
Now is the time to buy.

Late Baroque
Baroque 1650 – 1750
◇ In the beginning of the 18th century it got a
new stylish character called late Baroque
(1720 - 1750).
◇ This is a transitional style with it’s very own
distinguished expression.
◇ Austere and slender with sparse decorations
– between Baroque and Rococo.
◇ A relief from the Baroque dark and heavy
furniture and It’s these painted late Baroque
pieces that we appreciate the most from the
Baroque period.

Rococo 1750 - 1775
◇The furniture from the Rococo period in Sweden is
one of our favorite styles with it’s sophistication
and sensitive gently curved lines.
◇ Despite being already popular in France since
about 1720's Rococo took several decades before
it emerged in Sweden.
◇ It was only after 1750 that the style took hold of
the conservative craftsmen in the country.
◇ Its elegant and graceful "S" curve lines made the
furniture light and playful.
◇ It was a relief from the Baroque dark and heavy
furniture.
Rococo

Historical Context
◇ Let’s put this in perspective…. What else was happening in the world at this time?
◇ The American Revolution was taking place from 1765 to 1783
◇ Declaration of Independence signed July 4, 1776
◇ Louis XV came to power in France is 1710-1774

Rococo
6 DIFFERENT ROCOCO CHAIRS 1750 TO 1775

Rococo
Did you know clocks have gender?

Rococo 1750 - 1775
◇One doesn’t hink of Black painted pieces
in Swedish antiques.
◇Black pieces were however popular
during the 18th century
◇`Particulaly popular on desks and writing
tables.
◇For Modern Antiques Black helps to
define and silhouette the architectural
qualities of the piece and lends a
"masculinity" without being heavy.
Rococo

◇ This Black Rococo desk is a
fabulous example of the
Swedish interpretation of the
rococo style.
◇ Sensitive - gently curved
lines to the legs and apron -
sparse on the carvings and
yet elegant.
◇ Its sophistication and simple
lines, combine to make
pieces like this work well in a
wide variety of spaces and
mix perfectly with modern
furniture and in
contemporary as well as
traditional spaces.
Rococo

Gustavian Period 1775 - 1810 (Late Gustavian 1790 - 1810)
The extremely elegant interior styles of the Swedish manor houses during the late 18th
century - beginning 19th century has long been associated with Gustav the third person and
come to bear his name. Admittedly the King's enthusiasm for the new style made it known
but it actually begun to take shape about 10 years before his enthronement. It was a
harmonious blend of rococo lightness and a new taste for the classisism, the forms became
straighter and more symmetrical.
Gustavian

◇ King Gustav had a strong feeling for the fine art
music and architecture.
◇ He visited Louis XVI in France and saw the
wonders that were happening in Versailles and
inspired by the work sent his own craftsmen to
learn in France.
◇ He traveled to Italy where he visited the
excavations in the Roman cities of Pompeii and
Herculaneum he was heavily influenced by
antiquity ideals.
◇ Back home in Sweden he hired the best-known
contemporary architects and designers for its
castles and got to give the beloved style its name.
Gustavian

◇This Gustavian cabinet is a fabulous
example.
◇ Its sophistication simple lines and
delightful pale colour makes a piece
like this work well in a wide variety of
spaces and mix perfectly with
modern furniture.
◇It’s so easy to live with them and they
go well with everything. This fact
makes them extremely attractive.
◇You can open any interior magazine
anywhere in the world and you are
certain to find a Gustavian piece
highlighting a room.
Gustavian

◇The Gustavian expression is typically
Swedish: straight and simple with
sparse decor.
◇The painted furniture is often made
of native woods and painted mainly
in pale white blue yellow and red
colours.
◇Even with wear and tear over
centuries they show strength and
charm.
◇Swedish furniture was built in strong,
dense pine that was allowed to grow
slow and We do have to be grateful
to the nordic climate for preserving
our heritage.
Gustavian

Original Paint
◇ Authentic examples with original paintwork are
the most popular and have become increasingly
rare.
◇ The demand is continuously growing and
consequently so are prices.
◇ Investing in such pieces will be rewarding in
many ways but it is fundamental to keep in
mind that with Swedish painted furniture, the
market prizes original, not new, paintwork.
◇ Swedish furniture was often painted to imitate
the grain and character of a variety of exotic
woods, like Mahogany, which had to be
imported and therefore reserved just for an
elite, mostly around the Stockholm area.
Original Paint

Original Paint
◇This technique simultaneously
brings to life a new piece with its
own individual appeal, texture
and integrity. It is an absolutely
magical process.
◇But there is also a great risk for us
dealers buying, we never know
how much of the original paint
that is left under the layers of
later paint. All this results in
different types of conditions.
◇The general rule is that good
original colour demands higher
prices.

Original Paint
1. Original piece that has been
kept and never overpainted.
2. The dry scraped pieces where
we manage to keep as much of
the original paint possible with
some retouches.
3. The pieces that unfortunately
doesn’t keep much of the
original paint and these pieces
are sometimes professionally
retouched in the same colour
palette as the original.
4. Lastly we have the pieces that
has lost all of their original
colour and these pieces are
often completely repainted.

◇Transitional pieces testify a
moment in furniture history – a
moment between two furniture
periods.
◇ An example of Transitional pieces
are the pieces we discussed from
the end of the Baroque period
known as Late Baroque.
◇Transitional style has its very own
distinguished expression.
◇Austere and slender with sparse
decorations - between baroque
and rococo.
Transitional

◇ Much of the Swedish furniture currently available on the "antique" market has been
comprehensively rebuilt and restored, often repainted in popular pale colours and sadly
some of these created or "style" pieces are sold as period.
◇ It is paramount to pay attention and look closely.
◇ During the 80’s and 90’s a lot of furniture with original color was unfortunately destroyed
by chemicals.
Fakes

Fakes
Antique Swedish Gustavian Style painted four-door sideboard with four diamond shaped doors
and drawers with lambs tongue moulding beneath top, one interior shelf. The paint has been
refreshed in traditional distressed Gustavian white. Original hinges and locks.

A stunning Baroque bureau with an outstanding antique patina. Original locks keys hardware
and cast iron lift handles. Swedish circa 1840.
Fakes

◇ When buying online my first tip would be to pay attention to the description of the piece.
◇ Period antiques are pieces that were made during the time that the design originated
whereas pieces made later to resemble those from the prior time are classified as "style"
pieces.
◇ Gustavian period furniture we know they were only made in the late 18th century to early
19th century in Sweden. (1775 to 1810)
Period vs Style

In 1846 the guild system dissolved in Sweden and the carpenter's strict quality controls
ceased. Cabinetmakers were now able to freely practice their craft. During the second half of
the 19th century it became more common with machine-made parts and the handmade
furniture decreased most significantly and unfortunately so did the quality.
In conclusion: Pieces that look Gustavian but where made one or two hundred years later or
even last year are properly designated in the Gustavian style or reproductions.

Swedish Antiques Master Class presented by Toma Clark Haines The Antiques Diva at Dallas Market Center

Swedish Antiques Master Class presented by Toma Clark Haines The Antiques Diva at Dallas Market Center

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