Kings Hat Antiques brings Swedish Gustavian and Swedish traditional country furniture to the UK.

These lovely pieces were made between the end of the 1700s and the mid to latter part of the 1800s. This was an exciting time for Swedish design as it was in the late 18C that King Gustav III championed what was to become known as the Gustavian style. Craftsmen at the Swedish Court in Stockholm found inspiration in French Classicism but developed it into a uniquely Swedish style which then spread to the provinces. It is a wonderful fusion of clean lines, symmetry and elegance and a light handling of pretty ornamentation and shapely carving.

Each piece of furniture has its own story to tell and each piece is unique. Often it would have been commissioned by a well-off family from a skilled local cabinet maker, thus created according partly to the prevailing tastes, partly to the needs of its owners and partly to the skills and traditions of the local craftsmen. So some pieces combine hallmarks of the Gustavian style with charming rustic influences. Many items also offer the surprise of hidden drawers, cupboards and shelves.

Authentic Swedish antique furniture is rarely available in the UK and it has been a long-held dream of mine to bring it over here. My inspiration for creating the company is a very special house built by my great-great grandfather in 1886 on an island in Stockholm called ‘Kungshatt’ – ‘Kings Hat’.

The house remains in the family today and is largely unchanged, with an impressive collection of antique furniture which I have always loved. The joy of owning antique pieces for me is about keeping that dialogue with the past and investing in a tangible piece of history that will become rarer as time goes on.

I hope you will enjoy taking a piece of the Swedish story home with you.

Caroline Craze, Owner of Kings Hat Antiques.