Contemporary Art Furniture and Accessories in Hand Painted and Lacquered Wood

Ingela Norén and Daniel Grant create finely crafted works of functional art. Their partnership began in Pietrasanta, Italy in 1986 as marble sculptors. Ingela Norén, a renowned and published weaver, studied arts and crafts in Sweden, her native country, including the study of faux finish techniques. Daniel Grant, a skilled and professional marble sculptor and painter, studied art and philosophy in California. He made custom furniture and cabinets before joining Ingela in creating this combined artistic venture in 1994.

Our Vision

In Scandinavia, craftsmen imitated exotic stones and wood on furniture and throughout building interiors. Perfect representation was less important than showing artistic craftsmanship. We go forward from this thread of tradition with a fresh instinct on our contemporary works. We aim to expand and excite the definition of furniture.

There are three parts to a finish:

• First – An underlay of stain or paint is applied.
• Second – A casein emulsion, usually buttermilk and pigment are mixed and used as a glaze. This is applied in and manipulated in myriad ways. There are metal and rubber combs, many headed brushes for graining and veining. Rags, sponges, stippling brushes, fists and fingers clearly leave their imprint. The hand of the artist? No question!
• Third – Several rich layers of lacquer are applied to protect the work. Notice the unique feel appeal by allowing your hand to really experience the “piano finish” smoothness and depth. Our art furniture, frames and accessories are painted on MDF and hardwoods for stability of the finish.

Care & Maintenance

To Remove Dust: Simply wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a cleaning polish or mild detergent.

To Clean: Fingerprints, cooking fumes, smoking residue, etc., accumulates on any finished surface. None of these contaminants will harm our finish, but should be removed to restore the finish to its original luster. Just wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a non-wax containing polish or mild detergent solution. Avoid the use of ammonia-based products or silicone oils as they may cause damage if used over a long period of time. The finish is durable and resistant to most household spills. However, spills should be wiped up promptly to avoid potential problems. Excessive prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures and high humidity can cause damage to both the finish and the wood itself. Following these simple steps will keep your finished piece looking like new for generations.