Original PIECES

ORIGINAL PIECES

- a world of captivating stories and unique products

India is a paradise for those who love finding beautiful old furniture and objects. They can be found in long rows at our suppliers' recycling centers, collected from all over India and neighboring countries.

Our mission is to find and preserve beautiful old items and furniture, transforming them into rustic interiors that fit perfectly into Nordic home decor. We strive to keep them as original as possible. This can include anything from old school benches, water jugs, cabinets, and tables—a world of possibilities.

We love the idea of giving old things new life with us, transforming them into beautiful interiors filled with soul and stories. Below, we have provided a few examples of our original pieces. You can view our full range here.

The horse - a symbol of love


On Mette's first trip to India many years ago, the only thing she brought back home for herself was a magnificent large horse. Mette was so captivated by the old horse—the wood was cracked, but the horse was full of soul and history.

Since Mette's first trip, it has become a tradition that every time we travel to India, we search for fine old horses. After all, old love never dies...

In the old days, these horses were mounted on the eaves of rooftops—a stallion and a mare—as a symbol of the love between the man and woman who lived in the house. Each horse was handmade, with countless hours spent carving each one, adding intricate details, and painting them in beautiful, vibrant colors—all in the name of love. Beautiful, isn't it?

Today, when we find these horses at our suppliers, they are often piled up in stacks. This is where the wild hunt begins for the perfect pieces, and if we find a matching pair—a stallion and a mare—there is great excitement. We love diving into the stacks and finding the ones we think are the most beautiful. We don't do much to them except clean off the peeling paint and add a base. We believe they are most beautiful as they are—shaped by the passage of time.

​Our ORIGINAL tables

​Sjælsø is particularly known for having a wide selection of original old tables. The key is to find the best ones. Each table is unique, as they have been used in different ways, resulting in distinctive characteristics. The wood and original paint are worn in various ways, giving the tables plenty of patina. We may find tables that resemble each other, but they will never be exactly the same—fortunately. We love differences, and imperfections.

The tables were previously used as market, wedding, or school tables. In India, they host massive weddings, and back in the day, they might have made 200 tables for food and drink during the celebrations. These are the tables we now seek out. Similarly, schools are continually being modernized, which is fortunate for us, as many old school tables can be repurposed as beautiful benches or console tables here with us. We love that each piece of furniture carries its own unique story.

Wooden pot - an original piece made by hand

This beautiful wooden pot is truly exceptional—completely unique. It was the first product selected when Sjælsø was established and has become one of our classics. We love original old items that can be given new life with us at Sjælsø. We cherish the fact that each pot is unique and has its own distinctive look. At the same time, we are deeply fascinated by the history behind each pot and the craftsmanship involved in making it.

The pots are old—some up to 100 years. They are all hand-carved. Just think of the work and skill that goes into each one. Look at the wood and the fine grains in each hand-carved pot. And see how each old pot has been repaired by hand.

We love hunting through the piles to find the perfect pots and select the very best ones. Originally, these pots were used for storage of items like rice and grains. Many years later, and many miles away—here with us—they are given new life as beautiful decorative pots in our homes.