Pair of Gustavian stools attributable to Ephraim Ståhl, Sweden, 18th century

A pair of Swedish neoclassical benches from the Gustavian period, attributed to Ephraim Ståhl (1768–1820), a master cabinetmaker active in Stockholm between 1794 and 1820 and a renowned supplier to the court of Gustav IV Adolf. The frame is carved wood, painted white. The square, upholstered seat rests on four turned and fluted legs, topped with carvings in the form of stylized acanthus leaves.
The waistline is decorated with a continuous carved frieze in the form of stylized waves, interrupted by cubes intersecting with the legs by embossed discs. The decoration reveals the sobriety and elegance characteristic of Gustavian aesthetics, with a direct reference to French Louis XVI style models, reinterpreted according to the Scandinavian taste of the late 18th century.
Pieces of restrained proportion and great decorative refinement, revealing precision in design and virtuosity in sculptural treatment, in line with the workshop production attributed to Ephraim Ståhl.