Georg Haupt’s Sideboard-bed (Stockholm 1741-1784).
Georg Haupt was the son of a carpenter from Nuremberg, he learned joinery from Johan Conrad Eckstein in Stockholm, after which he traveled as a laborer to Amsterdam, Paris and London.
Haupt learned his craft during a period when the French Rococo had established itself in the design of Swedish furniture, but arrived in Paris in 1764, when the neoclassical style later known as Louis XVI had begun to gain ground.
He was employed in the workshop of Simon Oeben, the brother of the most well-known Jean-François Oeben. He traveled by work to London in 1768, and remained there until July 1769, when his appointment as king’s cabinetmaker prompted him to return to Stockholm. His first real commission was going to be a desk designed as a gift for the queen. After some pressure from the king, the carpentry guild in Stockholm allowed him to use the complete piece to qualify him as a master, although there were craftsmen older than him waiting for his turn. Its reputation increased after realizing a mineral cabinet for the prince (one of its more represantativas pieces).
The style of Haupt was characterized by detailed intarsos that combine different woods of different color and structure. Clear example, this original comfortable bed convertible, made with different woods, highlighting its maroon color of amaranth, and its golden bronzes. This piece is made with the same wood as the orignal, so bright colors had the comfort in its origin, that over the years end up darkening these natural colors of wood, at this time the dress is much darker.
This bed was in the private chambers of the king, Gustavus III of Sweden, located in the living room next to his dormitory, in the palace of Drottningholm, (current residence of the Royal family) where every night this bed was open and slept in it page or Royal guard. These guards were young people and belonged to the nobility, (not anyone could be a king’s page) in the archives of the Royal Guard are preserved writings where they tell true funny and funny anecdotes happened in these guards.
At the moment two copies have been made, both already sold, one of them belongs to the Royal family of Sweden.