A rare 19th c. Swedish sofa from the Gustavian period hand-scraped to its beautiful, original paint with original cushions. Fine carvings, ca 1800, Stockholm, Sweden. This piece features decoratively carved detailing of bell flowers around the frame with acanthus leaves on the legs. Sphinx heads adorn the arms and the sides depict a typical Gustavian scene with a pair of griffons. Attributed to master chair maker, Ephraim Sthal (1767-1820), who worked in Stockholm and was one of the main furniture makers for the Royal Court, King Gustav III of Sweden. He is considered one of the most sophisticated masters of this period.