Gustavian Appliques
Anyone who has read this blog knows I love Gustavian and all Scandinavian Style.
Ornamentation came to Sweden and the Nordic region with King Gustave. After spending considerable time with the French court of Louis, he brought a specific esthetic home with him and moderated it for his court and castle.
For the most part Scandinavian even Gustavian moldings and appliques are not as ornate as French or Italian carvings. They often herald back to simple countryside pleasures, and sometimes the embellishments take the form of hand painting which we can duplicate so easily in stencils. For more on King Gustave read here
Here are 4 of the best northern ornamentations on Swedish antiques that we just love.
I name this photo Singing the Blues and love everything about this piece, the color, the trims. It is a full quad of different appliques all used differently.
- Simple bead trim like our T70
- The acanthus leaves going up the legs
- A simple Bell Flower drop – (one like this coming soon)
- A typical Swedish guilloches
Speaking of guilloches – which is simply a round interlocking molding.
This little table leg shot has such charm first the guilloches and then this lovely little flower. On this piece note, the flower is not raised high.
Natural objects play an important role in Scandinavian decorations.
Aha, simplicity how doth I love you? Let me count the ways: one piece of furniture, a straightforward pattern done with three interpretations. The top would lead you to believe it’s a form of egg and dart, but when you look at the matching rosette and carving on the leg, you realize it is variations on a theme.
4 – Rill Work
The last one for today is Rill Work. It is everywhere! From Cupboard doors to table skirts, it is a simple, unpretentious embellishment. Often made fancy by making it a diamond instead of a square it is a staple of Scandinavian county style.
More on this subject later as we roll out more of our new products for now