Antique pieces in modern settings at James Adam

Highlighting the versatility of antique furniture in a 21st-century setting

An upholstered Howard style sofa and some maritime art at James Adam.

In their appealing catalogue for an At Home sale in Dublin next Wednesday (August 28) Adams has very consciously set out to stage antique pieces in fresh contemporary settings. The aim is to highlight the versatility of antique furniture and show how easy it is to adapt to a 21st-century setting, not to mention sustainability in a country where the EPA reckons over 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture, go into landfill each year.

So how about it? Take a long look at this photograph of an upholstered Howard-style sofa (lot 22, estimated €400-€600) in a New England style painted panelled setting under a maritime oil on canvas of the clipper Manalope painted in 1889 by the Russian American artist Herman R Dietz (1860-1923) (lot 21, estimate €2,000-€3,000). Howard & Sons created this iconic chair design in 1866. It is not old and stuffy - timeless and classical is a description that would fit the bill, which in any case will not be large.