The genre of furniture traditionally conceived as "Louis XVI" is inspired by the pieces from the fertile reign of Louis XVI of france. The explosion of design that was enabled by his court at Versailles created a new phenomenon and so is seen as French in origin.
It is utterly beautiful and highly stylized with intricate carvings, upholstery and giltwork. The design movement produced chairs, carver chairs, mirrors, tables, beds, chest of drawers and other types of furniture that has been much copied in the modern reproduction industry - the copies have lost the elegance though of the original pieces as factory produced furniture can never match the innate beauty in hand carved originals.
Adjustable King Size Bed
The Swedish 'Louis XVI' style of furniture on the other hand draws inspiration from its French counterpart but has subtle differences with its infusion of Swedish culture and ethos. Sweden has always had a more relaxed and less 'in your face' approach to its design and this is reflected in the adaption of the louis xvi style to the Swedish palette by Swedish craftsmen.
The great Swedish King Carl Gustav spent time at Louis xvi court in Versailles before he ascended the throne in the late 1700s - the period of his reign until 1800 is known as the 'Swedish age of enlightenment' for the cultural renaissance it produced. This spawned in part the 'gustavian' furniture style that draws heavily in part on the French louis xvi.
The furniture style he inspired uses the same gilt wood finishes and cane carving as the French originals but are much more understated and less 'bling'. There are detailed carvings on the arms, rose carvings at the top, deliciously fluted hand turned legs and dramatic silk upholstery.
Many pieces were not just gold gilt but white painted with red and gold detailings with horsehair stuffed upholstery, flax webbing and wooden lugs in place of screws - this is one way to date 1800s furniture. Chairs especially were held together by wooden lugs and screws were not really used until the 1900's.
Sofas can be oval backed, square backed, with straight or curved arms and can seat 2-6 people depending on the size. They also can be found in a range of complexity from very simple to extremely intricately carved. You will usually find them as part of a set including a pair of carver chairs, a pair of chairs and often a table.
The beauty of this Swedish louis xvi style is in its elegance and visual appeal. The build quality is also excellent and they make very comfortable usable furniture that can add a real twist to modern interior design especially when combined with unusual fabrics.
Antique Swedish Louis xvi furniture is exciting because it lives and breathes with an imbued history that's adds gravitas to its ambiance. Something that reproduction pieces cannot match. It fits a variety of surroundings and is a treat for the eye as well as making a style statement that can be both grand or subtle depending on how you upholster and situate the piece.