The whole story is a bit romantic in a way, smiles Maria af Trampe, now 64, recalling how she came to be living in a Swedish manor house, surrounded by antiques. 'As a child, I loved being taken around fairs and markets by my parents, but I wasn't brought up in a manor house full of antiques. It was a move to London that prompted that." Back in 1995, Maria and her first husband, both of whom worked in corporate banking, found themselves posted to London. Walking up and down the King's Road, Maria was struck by the number of Swedish antiques that filled the fashionable shop windows - the grand Gustavian style was very much in vogue at the time.
The sight of so much familiar furniture rekindled her interest in antiques, and started her thinking about a possible career change.
'I had a very beautiful aunt, Gudrun Ödmann, who ran an antiques shop in Stockholm, and she encouraged me,' explains Maria. 'I told her about my ideas, and she said: "If you want to start in the antiques business, you must go and see Jan Åke af Trampe. He is the source of it all!"
Jan Åke had built up a successful wholesale business supplying Swedish and continental antiques, and acting as a museum consultant. With an introduction from her aunt, Maria set off for Sweden and met up with Jan Åke, who helped her put together a collection of Swedish furniture and design. 'I took a good lorry-load of 110 items back to London,' explains Maria.
Once back in Chelsea, she laid out a selection of pieces in the basement of her townhouse and invited a number of top interior designers to a private launch. Maria's business quickly outgrew the basement and she took stands at antiques fairs, such as The Decorative Fair at Battersea.
Denne historien er fra Special 2024-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
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Denne historien er fra Special 2024-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BULGARIA'S BEJEWELLED PAST
Buyers from around the world flocked to Geneva to bid on courtly jewels amassed by Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria and his family over a century ago - a collection that had lain untouched for many decades, discovers Caroline Wheater
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Georgie Wykeham
The interiors and furniture designer reflects on her antiques-filled childhood and favourite finds
Baukaus INVISIBLE REVOLUTION
The movement is predicted to make waves in 2025, and it’s easy to see why: its sleek lines and unfussy forms changed the way we approach interiors and today the style looks as fresh as ever
Enthusiasms
This Month: Dummy Boards
ECLECTIC Edwardian
In bringing this impressive period property in London back to life, its owner, Alice Merritt, has combined bold prints and quirky antiques to create a glamorous yet lived-in feel
A true ORIGINAL
In the Milanese home of architects Federica Gambigliani Zoccoli and Giovanni Maria Sacchi, an imaginative approach has created a unique, characterful and warm home, where there's a new surprise at every turn
Secrets of the STONES
Britain's ancient sites, with their many mysteries, have always inspired a sense of awe and wonder.James Alistair Henry shares some of his favourites
Natural Beauty
Derived from the flax plant, linen is one of the oldest textiles in the world, and its future is looking bright, too, says Celia Rufey
Displaying art
Christopher Peter’s apartment reflects his previous career as an art gallery curator. Here, he shares his tips on how best to display collections
SHADES OF WELLNESS
There’s a powerful link between our homes and our happiness, with interiors playing a crucial role in enhancing this connection. Read on for eight easy decorating ideas to boost wellbeing...
