Gondola Sofa: from B & T Antiques

Gondola Sofa: from B & T Antiques

Photographed here, we have a stunning vintage gondola sofa; this piece was crafted circa 1950 amongst many highly regarded pieces of Scandinavian furniture, and most of these renowned works were crafted primarily with functionality in mind (likely as a subsequent result of newly acquired social attitudes following the second world war) and as a result often present themselves with modern design aesthetics. Though the forward thinking logic of Scandinavian designers is visible with regards to this piece, the overall look is more ambiguous than some others.

The piece was crafted from an unspecified wood; however, based on other such pieces of furniture from the era, it’s safe to say that it was likely crafted from rosewood or some other readily available hardwood. This assumption is supported by the fact that the properties of these woods offer both choice functionality, as these woods generally last significant lengths of time whilst showing minimal signs of wear in comparison to some soft woods e.g. teak, as well as a bountiful sense of visual pleasantry, stemming from gorgeous grain patterns and the general tendency of these woods taking well to some forms of lacquer. 

Vintage Scandinavian furniture was rather highly sought after during the latter part of the 20th century as it was known for the application of high quality woods and impressive utilitarian and simply beautiful design features. The exact same can be said for this gondola sofa; firstly, with regards to the use of high quality woods, it’s safe to assume that this sofa is no different, it has survived over half a century and the wooden components of the piece really do express minimal signs of wear, many more recent pieces could not have the same said for them. 

In terms of utility, this piece meets all required criteria: it looks very spacious and comfortable, the velvet covering provides a comfortable surface feel, the spaces either side of the curved arm rests provide ample space for a small table to partially sit under (should it not be able to fit otherwise) and the legs take up as small a space as possible for a sofa of this size. 

Finally, in terms of interesting and aesthetically pleasing design features, there is much that can be said; the beige velvet covering is simply exquisite and makes the sofa look very inviting, the smooth curved lines of the sofa are quite passive and as such make the sofa a very interesting and tasteful addition to the room it may find itself in, without dominating the overall look of the room as some sofas have a tendency of doing. Again with regards to the light curvature of the lines in which the sofa was crafted; they offer an almost ambiguous modern design. For a 1950s piece the design is undoubtedly modern in nature, however it certainly does not lend itself to either an antique or modern setting. This detail is probably the most impressive about this sofa and really expresses the genius of the renowned Scandinavian designers of the time, whilst also exemplifying why such pieces were so highly sought after. 

This piece is offered at a price of £2,800.00 and it’s clear why - though it is safe to assume the presence of a high wood quality in furniture such as this, it's the design which really sets this gondola sofa apart even from modern pieces of furniture. It takes an impressive thinking to draw up and create a piece that has features that lend themselves to either setting equally effectively; it is this characteristic especially which should make any buyer or home owner consider purchasing it.     

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http://interiorboutiques.com/en/gondola-sofa-cl950

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Antique Deep Buttoned Leather Chesterfield Sofa: from Church Street Antiques

Antique Deep Buttoned Leather Chesterfield Sofa: from Church Street Antiques

Pictured here is an undeniably gorgeous piece of furniture, an antique deep buttoned leather Chesterfield sofa crafted circa 1930. Predominant characteristics of these sofas can be seen exemplified here in: the arms which rise to the same height as the back of the sofa, the leather upholstering and the tightly stuffed cushions. 

Often when it comes to furniture a picture is worth a thousand words and some pieces truly speak for themselves - the same can be said for this fabulous piece, it simply oozes character. Various details about this piece give it this character - the tone, for example, is a rich and moving brown; the incorporation of this colour gives the sofa the warm and inviting presence the perfect sofa should present. When one sits on their sofa they expect immediate comfort and relaxation, and when one looks at this one, they come to expect the very same. Additionally, the large, tightly stuffed cushions clearly offer a similar sense of sturdy comfort. The leather upholstering really adds to the personality to the sofa, by showing ruggedness and reliability, after all its having survived in incredible condition following almost a century of life clearly indicates that its of a high quality and is not easily affected by wear and tear.

But what really sets this sofa apart is that it seems to tell a story. It was crafted at a time of widespread British pride, the age of an empire and certain aspects of the sofa really do seem to reflect such sentiments. It’s large in stature and has an air of reliability and ruggedness, the same tough demeanour often characterised by the likes of Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria. The rich, brown tones of the upholstered leather represent the huge wealth acquired by the empire and the wealth the empire itself had come to represent in its vibrant lifetime. The tasteful curvature of the arms and the back represent the various great British minds in literature, the arts, science and numerous other fields. It is a quintessentially British couch and a marvellous example of one at that.

     

Why should this sofa attract the attention of a collector or even just someone lucky enough to have the opportunity of buying such an amazing piece? Because it is an item which would fit so perfectly into any home or collection. This chesterfield sofa is just such a wonderful specimen and one which wouldn't look out of place in the right type of modern setting; in fact, in one which doesn't totally alienate its vintage colour and style it would certainly be the single most eye-catching part of the entire room. 

This piece is offered at a price of £2,500, great value for a piece with such bountiful character, charm and handsome aesthetics, which any buyer would be lucky to add to their home or collection.

For this item, more details and to enquire, click here:
http://interiorboutiques.com/en/antique-deep-buttoned-leather-chesterfield-sofa

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For Stuart Shuster's guest articles, click these links:
What is the 'Original' look in Antique Furniture?http://interiorboutiques.blogspot.com/2016/08/specialist-article-by-stuart-shuster.html
What makes an antique attractive to a customer?
http://interiorboutiques.blogspot.com/2016/07/what-makes-antique-attractive-to.html

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18th Century Chest of Drawers: from Les Trois Garçons

18th Century Chest of Drawers: from Les Trois Garçons

Shown here is a truly stunning piece, a Louis XVI chest of drawers, crafted in France of course circa 1790. This piece is in remarkable condition for such an item of such an age and is certainly worth a good look from the eyes of any buyer.

This chest of drawers is an incredibly beautiful piece, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is crafted from mahogany; a hardwood which is not only renowned for its durability, mahogany consistently provides the items it graces with an absolutely gorgeous tone, here, it presents itself with a deep and nutty brownish colour which really adds a warm and inviting aesthetic appeal to the overall look of the chest. Additionally, mahogany boasts a stunning natural grain, clearly visible in the photos provided.

The design also incorporates a lavish white marble top, the presence of marble will already almost guarantee a visually impressive piece, however what sets this piece apart is how the marble creates an incredible contrast with the rich tone of the mahogany. It is this contrast that creates a real sense of visual pleasantry obvious to any onlooker. Moreover, the piece is detailed throughout with brass, this is clear with regards to the gallery which holds the marble top. The brass doesn't disturb the wonderful contrast between the mahogany and the marble; rather it simply adds another colour to impress the viewer more so. The addition of brass to mahogany is also characteristic of the regency period. 

Quite frankly it would be almost a shame to see such a fantastic piece put to practical use again; this most certainly is a piece which should be added to a collection, as it simply stands out as an impressive item. The piece is crafted with very high quality materials, including mahogany. The incorporation of mahogany means this piece will remain in its owner’s collection for a substantial length of time whilst also surviving any wear it may be subject to. Additionally the presence of high quality materials makes a statement about and adds to the richness of the collection in which the chest may find itself in. Lastly, the chest is in excellent condition for an antique of its age, an impressive factor to anyone who might have the pleasure of viewing it.

This piece is offered at a price of £3,950.00; age, excellent workmanship in terms of its crafting, obviously the incorporation of such prestigious and handsome materials and overall condition are what constitutes the price of this antique and are also the factors which would make it a formidable addition to any well established or starting collection. 

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American Vintage Sideboard: from Les Trois Garçons

American Vintage Sideboard: from Les Trois Garçons

Shown here, an intricately and skilfully crafted American Vintage sideboard; this specific piece was designed by Lane USA circa 1960.

This piece can be used in the place of a drawer as well as perhaps having more of a showcasing role in its owner’s home. This is due to the fact that it has 9 drawers which open at the front; these could store anything from clothes, to shoes or could even be, with some slight modification, converted into some type of extravagant and lavish wine rack. Effective showcasing can be achieved, simply by taking advantage of the lacquered finish on the top of the sideboard; onlookers will be enticed by the exquisite design features which adorn the front of sideboard itself only to find even more gorgeous items featured.
This piece is made from oak and therefore bears with it some advantages. For example, oak is a very durable wood and so will last longer and stand up to more rigorous usage than some other pieces of furniture crafted from softer woods, such as cedar or pine. Oak is a traditional type of wood often found in antique pieces of furniture and so will offer a great rustic look and make an excellent and eye-catching addition to any room with this such aesthetic. The wood also takes very well to lacquer; the top of the sideboard has been subject to such treatment and so expresses the sheer charm of the wood’s grain.  

The wood aside; the piece itself has many advantages to offer, mainly the frontal decor. On the forward facing side of the sideboard, we can observe a truly marvellous design; in a sense, it exemplifies the characteristics of the wood from which it was crafted, for example, the rigidity presented by the straight lines, express the sturdy quality of the oak. However, the variation of the line lengths, the breaks provided via the incorporation of a few differing shapes, and just the fact that it is such a stunning piece of wood work, reflect the wood’s natural allure.

To conclude, this piece is offered at a price of £4,800.00, due to its breathtaking design, the well maintained condition of this antique and the quality of the oak used. It would find itself a welcome and flattering addition to any collector’s home in any range of purposes.

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