Source Antiques Like the Pros: Why Sweden is HOT for Sourcing Antiques 

Summer is simply the best time to visit Sweden – the daylight never seems to end, stunningly beautiful hills and orchards and shimmering lakes, enjoying a crayfish boil and icy vodka at an outdoor café… and antiquing! Sweden is HOT for sourcing antiques this summer… and Sweden is on sale at The Antiques Diva® & Co! 

The summer season is the low season for Swedish antique dealers – and those crafty Swedes use this season to stock up on new inventory. Which means for foreign buyers coming abroad to source antiques in Sweden they get 1st dibs on seeing new inventory their competitors (who are also shopping in Sweden) have not yet seen! Swedish Antiques Diva Guide Daniel can’t wait to introduce you antiquing in Sweden! 

BUY 1 / GET 1 SWEDEN SUMMER ANTIQUE BUYING TOUR 

• Book a 1 Day Sweden Antiques Buying Tour, Get a 2nd day FREE

• Tour Dates: June – July  2018

Book A Tour with The Antiques Diva & CoGet a two-day custom, private antique buying tour in Sweden for the price of one day! Learn more here.

(The event was streamed on Facebook LIVE by Aspire magazine, watch here.)

When I spoke to a room of design professionals on How to Source Antiques like the Pros with interior designers Robert Passal and Garrow Kedigian at an event at the D&D Building hosted by The Robert Allen Duralee Group, the audience asked the panel, What are the most popular European antique sourcing destinations? My answer: 

Why Sweden is HOT for Sourcing Antiques 

Today in interior design, its all about the mix: what I call global chic. People don’t want one specific style in their home, they want their home to reflect their travels and their interests. They like to mix it up: a high-end piece with a provenance next to a modern trendy piece, an Asian antique juxtaposed against a modern abstract painting, a mid-century home with a European sensibility. Swedish antiques marry perfectly with pieces in different styles, and different price points. With their clean lines and typically soft, muted paint colors, Swedish antiques blend beautifully with pieces in many other styles.

Compared to other French or English antiques, Sweden antiques are rare because they did not make as many. And because provenance plays a big part when it comes to pricing – it’s a tricky field to enter. There is – or rather SHOULD BE – a significant price difference between 18th C and 19th C pieces of the same style. And as it’s a case of “Buyer Beware” it’s important to educate yourself so you know what you’re buying to guarantee you’re paying the right price.

International buyers sourcing in Sweden aren’t just competing with an international market when it comes to sourcing – Swedish antiques are popular in Sweden with the Swedes too: and because Swedes appreciate quality, they are willing to pay the price for authentic Swedish antiques. When sourcing Swedish antiques, knowledge is power!

Antique Swedish commode: Sweden is HOT for Sourcing Antiques | Toma Clark Haines | The Antiques Diva & Co

Shopping at the antique warehouses in Sweden is an education. From painted Gustavian pieces to Rococo, Baroque, or Empire pieces we’ll educate you on what differentiates these periods. Opening the by-appointment-only-door is like treasure hunting: Everywhere you turn you will see something unexpected.

Antiques Diva guide Daniel Larsson

When you’re antiquing in Sweden, walking in with AD&CO is instant validation. Not only do we have access to private antique warehouses that aren’t online, dealers know The Antiques Diva means business. When our clients come in the door they are typically there to buy. And not just buy one piece – but container loads. This means that when you come with us sourcing antiques in Europe, you as our Antiques Diva client you have NOT ONLY your own buying power – but the reputation and the buying power of all our clients behind us! That power and those relationships help us negotiate on your behalf.

The key thing is this – our Antiques Diva Guides are local experts and personally know most of the dealers. We have the dealers’ private phone numbers and when our clients have questions or needs we can call up the dealer direct and talk to them on your behalf.

Daniel Larsson is our native-born Swedish Divo Guide. Daniel takes pride in helping clients find the right piece at their desired price point. Daniel has an international mindset and has traveled to the US, England, India, Norway, Spain and Holland; and runs D.LARSSON Interiör & Antikhandel which deals in fine Swedish antiques ranging from 18th to late 19th century, specializing in high-quality Rococo and Gustavian painted furniture, Swedish country and decorative items.

Antique Swedish clock and candelabra Source Antiques Like the Pros- Why Sweden is HOT for Sourcing Antiques | Toma Clark Haines | The Antiques Diva & Co

One of things Daniel warns clients is, “When walking into a Swedish antique warehouse you can have no expectations – you must be open to what’s in stock at that time.”

When Daniel takes clients antiquing in Sweden he provides an education in antiques:

• You need to understand the story behind the pieces, the romance, and connect each piece to its period.

• More than that you need to understand what lies underneath the pieces – understand restoration, what creates value in the pieces and what doesn’t.

• He teaches you about famous artisans in Stockholm and the countryside, explaining about various furniture makers, mirror makers and clockmakers.

• He teaches the differences between Swedish and other pieces – Sweden had periods that ended and unlike France where the periods often overlap in Sweden they never continued making them, so more limited editions because periods were finite.

The Golden Age of Swedish Antiques 

I always say that taking an Antiques Diva Sweden Tour is like taking a Master Class on Swedish Antiques! Last summer at the Dallas Market Center Daniel and I presented a Swedish Antiques Master– see our slideshow below to learn about the three important Swedish furniture periods.

Sweden Design Inspiration Tour with Derrick Ricketts of Dallas Market Center from The Antiques Diva & Co

The Antiques Diva & Co provides curated, custom guided inspiration tours throughout Europe and Asia for design industry professionals. Tours are private, or offered to carefully selected groups of industry professionals for a unique opportunity to connect and build relationships – and provide, what else? – Design Inspiration – as well as opportunities to buy antiques abroad. On tour we translate, negotiate and liaise clients with international shippers or use our own in-house shipping division to help clients get purchases home sweet home across the pond.

Book A Tour with The Antiques Diva & CoBook A Sweden Design Inspiration Tour

Toma Clark Haines – The Antiques Diva®️