Swedish architect and furniture designer Alf Svensson worked with a range of organic materials that are today commonly associated with Scandinavian modernism, utilizing rosewood, oak and teak in his cabinets, chairs, tables and other furniture, and opting for leather when it came to creating upholstery for his sleek seating. He worked for several manufacturers including String Seffle AB, Bergbom & Co., Nybrofabriken and Nesto but is best known to collectors for the designs he created for DUX.
As creative director at Bergboms, Svensson worked with brass and opaline glass to create a range of lighting. He designed sculptural tripod-style floor lamps with bodies of steam-bent solid teak — a popular material with furniture makers of the mid-20th century — while his hanging ceiling lights featured lacquered metal shades that bring pops of color into living rooms and entryways.
Svensson’s role at the lighting manufacturer, which was founded in 1940 by Efraim Ljung — also the founder of Ljungs Industrier — saw him collaborating with the likes of legendary designers such as Greta Magnusson Grossman and Edward Wormley, a favorite of mid-century modern furniture collectors and the longtime director of design for the Dunbar furniture company.
Svensson also served as the creative director at Ljungs Industrier. In Sweden, Studio Ljungs Industrier AB is the large family-owned parent company of Duxiana (in America, DUX). In 1950, Folke Ohlsson, then leading Ljungs Industrier’s design team, decamped to the States to explore how he could expand DUX’s business, which at that point included a wide range of furniture. It was during this time, in the postwar era, that American tastemakers really sold the citizenry on the warmth and good craftsmanship that characterizes Scandinavian modern design.
Ohlsson established a DUX office not long after he arrived in California, first in San Francisco and later in Burlingame. Svensson, a chief designer in the Malmö, Sweden, office of Ljungs Industrier, was among the top-tier furniture design talent with which DUX collaborated (a list that included Wormley and Bruno Mathsson). Svensson’s Galaxy chair, a comfortable upholstered swivel seat attributed to a partnership between the designer and Yngvar Sandström that exudes Space Age charm, is highly sought after, and Svensson's relationship with DUX yielded similarly attractive sideboards, lounge chairs and other furnishings that are some of his most celebrated works.
Find vintage Alf Svensson furniture on 1stDibs.
Pair of Brass Wall Lamps by Alf Svensson, Sweden, 1950s
By Paavo Tynell, Alf Svensson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Designed by Alf Svensson, Sweden, 1950s. Produced by Bergboms. Perforated brass with beautiful patina. New wiring.
Brass
Alf Svensson for Bergboms, pair of Wall lamps, Sweden, 1950s
By Bergboms, Alf Svensson
Located in Hammarö, SE
Pair of Sculptural Brass Wall Lamps by Alf Svensson for Bergboms, Sweden, 1950s An elegant and increasingly scarce pair of sculptural wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson for Bergbom...
Brass
Alf Svensson, Wall Light, Brass, Glass, Sweden, 1960s
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and white opaline glass wall light designed by Alf Svensson and produced by Bergboms, Sweden, c. 1960s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 15” H x 6.5” W x 7.5“D Back Plate Dim...
Brass
Large Swedish Wall Light White 1960s Vintage
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large wall light from Sweden edited in 1960s. Structure in lacquered steel with brass parts.
Brass, Steel
Swedish Brass Wall Light by Hans-Agne Jakobsson V-149, 1960s.
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, AB Markaryd
Located in Asaa, DK
Swedish Brass Sconce by Hans-Agne Jakobsson V-149, 1960s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern wall lamp model V 149 in brass and hand blown glass. Designed and produced by Swedish desig...
Brass
Wall lamps by Bergboms, Sweden, 1950s
By Bergboms
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Pair of wall lamps attributed to Alf Svensson for Bergboms, produced during the mid-20th century. Made from brass with perforated shades and white lacquered interiors. Adjustable in...
Brass
$4,101 / set
H 67 in Dm 39 in
Table lamps by Yngvar Sandström and Alf Svensson for Bergboms, Sweden, 1960s
By Alf Svensson & Yngve Sandström, Bergboms
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
This pair of table lamps was designed by Yngvar Sandström and Alf Svensson for Bergboms during the 1960s. The lamps feature an elegant base that rises into a slim brass stem, giving ...
Brass
$9,500 / set
H 14 in W 6.9 in D 12.6 in
Pair of Large 1950s Lisa Johansson Pape #3055 Brass Wall Lamps for Stockmann
By Lisa Johansson-Pape, Stockmann-Orno, Paavo Tynell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Large 1950s Lisa Johansson Pape #3055 Brass Wall Lamps for Stockmann. A highly sculptural pair of wall lamps executed in attractively patinated brass with white interior. Pr...
Metal, Brass
Swedish Modern, Teak, Brass, Glass, Wall Lights, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Stamford, CT
Swedish Mid-Century Modern, Teak, Brass, Glass, Wall Lights or Sconces, Sweden, 1960s Pair of teak, brass and glass wall sconces designed and produced in Sweden c. 1960s. Each example have teak backplates, brass and teak stems, and their original reeded white glass shades. Teak, Brass, Glass; Sweden c. 1960s Lamp shades...
Brass
Pair of Scandinavian Modern Brass Wall Lamps, 1950s
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
This refined pair of Danish wall lamps, designer unknown, offers a quintessential expression of mid-century Scandinavian lighting design—melding geometric precision, material contras...
Metal, Brass
$2,895 / set
H 14.18 in W 9.85 in D 4.73 in
Danish Designer, Pair of Brass Mid-Century Wall Lights / Lamps, Denmark, 1950s
By Fog and Morup, Taito, Paavo Tynell, Itsu, Lyfa
Located in Malmö, SE
A set of two beautiful Mid-Century wall lamps / lights / scones, with amazing patina. Made from brass with plastic shades. Designed by an unknown designer in Denmark, c. 1950s. Good...
Metal
$3,398
H 59.06 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Alf Svensson G34 Floor Lamp in Teak, Josef Frank Shade, Bergboms, Sweden, 1960s
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms, Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in The Hague, NL
This elegant floor lamp was designed by Alf Svensson and produced by Bergboms in Sweden in the 1960s. This three-legged design is numbered G34. The design is marked by the three legged base leading to the central tube, all in solid teak wood with a beautiful grain. A brass stem and the light fitting are mounted on top of the teak wood base. The cylinder shade is a custom design in a beautiful linen Svenskt Tenn fabric...
Brass
1950s Opaline Glass Pendants by Alf Svensson for Bergboms Belysning
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s Opaline Glass Pendants by Alf Svensson for Bergboms Belysning. Executed in opaline glass with black cloth cord and polished brass ceiling canopy. A lyrical and elegant Scandina...
Brass
Alf Svensson, Pendant Light, Brass, Glass, Sweden, 1950s
By Bergboms, Alf Svensson
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and white opaline glass pendant light designed by Alf Svensson and produced by Bergboms, Sweden, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 30.75” H x 15.25” Diameter Dimensio...
Brass
$806Sale Price|52% Off
H 33.47 in W 9.85 in D 5.52 in
Large Brass Copper And Art Glass Branch Wall Light / Scones. Sweden 1960s
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful brass wall light in the chape of a brach from Sweden. This lamp consists of a copper base with five white glass shades like a branch with berries. The shades have transpare...
Brass
Sold
H 19.3 in W 4.73 in D 13.78 in
Alf Svensson Swedish Mid-Century Adjustable Wall Sconce SL3 in Perforated Brass
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in Örebro, SE
A Swedish adjustable wall lamp model SL 3, designed by Alf Svensson for Bergbom & Co, circa 1950s. Executed in brass, the lamp features a perforated bell-shaped shade mounted on...
Brass
Wall Light by Alf Svensson
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Wall mounted wall light by Alf Svensson, with a long brass arm and metal shade lacquered light grey. The arm can be extended to almost double length. Decorative holes in the shade le...
Brass
Swedish Wall Lamps by Alf Svensson for Bergboms, 1950s
By Bergboms, Alf Svensson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson. Manufactured by Bergboms in Sweden during the 1950s. Black lacquered metal reflectors with brass structure.
Metal, Brass
Pair of Wall Lamps by Alf Svensson for Bergboms, Sweden, 1950s
By Bergboms, Alf Svensson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson. Manufactured by Bergboms in Sweden during the 1950s. Black lacquered metal reflectors with brass structure. Good vintage condition wit...
Aluminum, Brass
Wall Lamps by Alf Svensson for Bergboms, Sweden, Set of 2
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson, manufactured by Bergboms in Sweden during the 1950s. Black lacquered metal reflectors with brass structure. Good vintage condition with ...
Aluminum, Brass
Pair of Swedish Midcentury Wall Lamps by Alf Svensson for Bergboms
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in Karlstad, SE
Pair of rare wall lights by Alf Svensson for Bergboms, 1950s. The lamps are made of brass with shades of frosted opaline glass. Condition: Good/very good original condition. A smal...
Brass
Alf Svensson Wall Lamps Produced by Bergboms in Sweden
By Alf Svensson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson. Produced by Bergboms in Sweden. The price is listed per each lamp, 4 lamps are available.
Brass
Swedish Sconces by Alf Svensson for Bergboms
By Alf Svensson, Bergboms
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson, manufactured by Bergboms in Sweden during the 1950s. Black lacquered metal reflectors with brass structure. Good vintage condition with p...
Aluminum, Brass
Swedish Sconces by Alf Svensson
By Bergboms, Alf Svensson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of wall lamps designed by Alf Svensson, manufactured by Bergboms in Sweden during the 1950s. Black lacquered metal reflectors with brass structure. Good vintage condition w...
Aluminum, Brass