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Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Today, the name Svenskt Tenn is associated around the world with the vibrant, modernist textiles and furniture of Josef Frank, who was the Swedish company’s chief designer in the mid-20th century. But the term “svenskt tenn” actually means “Swedish pewter,” and the very first goods the company sold were stylish pewter objects, such as an elegant 1927 candelabra found in the collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum, or a sleek, understated mirror in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts. These pieces were designed to appeal to discerning but price-conscious shoppers in 1920s-era Stockholm.

Art teacher and interior designer Estrid Ericson (1894–1981) partnered with pewter artisan Nils Fougstedt (1881–1954) to establish Svenskt Tenn in 1924, and their creations quickly gained a reputation for high quality and affordability, winning a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925 — the design fair that brought global attention to the Art Deco style.

The experience of renovating her own apartment in the 1920s exposed Ericson to Swedish functionalism — or funkis, as it was known in Sweden — a branch of modernism that advocated uncomplicated forms, subdued colors and utility. She was inspired to open an interior design department at Svenskt Tenn, and in 1930 the firm introduced its first line of furniture.

Selections included items produced by the companies Gemla and Bodafors, as well as original designs by Ericson and the architects Uno Åhrén and Björn Trägårdh, who had worked together on the redesign and expansion of the showroom. The trio’s furniture was displayed at Stockholm’s Galleri Modern in 1931, where it was met with praise from critic Gotthard Johansson, a leading proponent of Swedish functionalism. Johansson admired the “pure lines” and “modern austerity” of the furniture, establishing Svenskt Tenn as an important voice in Swedish design.

But the signature partnership that would come to define the look of Svenskt Tenn was in part the result of political turmoil and the emergence of Nazism in Europe. When Josef Frank fled Vienna for Stockholm in 1933, he was already an accomplished architect who questioned modernist orthodoxy in design. He disliked tubular steel furniture and believed that monochromatic surfaces were distressing to viewers, while pattern and ornament gave interiors a sense of warmth and calm. Ericson was an admirer of Frank’s work, and offered him the chance to design products for Svenskt Tenn. Their professional partnership, particularly in textile design, would eventually become one of the hallmarks of Swedish modernism.

Frank and Ericson collaborated from 1934 until Frank’s death in 1967, with Frank creating unmistakable, bold designs and Ericson employing her flair for interiors, merchandising and display. The pair called their shared approach “Accidentism” or “The Happy Chances Philosophy,” mixing and matching the new and antique, the serious with the playful and pattern with solid colors to find eclectic new combinations in their showroom.

Frank’s textiles are like a visual catalogue of exotic plants and flowers, geological formations and maps, inspired in part by Ericson’s world travels and by Frank’s love of folk art. Svenskt Tenn continues to sell fabric, wallpaper and household goods, many of which sport variations of Frank's signature botanical motifs. Antique and vintage Svenskt Tenn pewter, lighting, furniture, textiles and decorative objects are generally priced anywhere from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on scale and condition.

The tenets of Scandinavian modernism are as fresh and relevant now as they were in the 1950s — light-filled and airy rooms with white walls are perfect settings for comfortable furniture upholstered in one of Josef Frank’s indelible patterns, and nearly a century since its founding, the signature aesthetic of Svenskt Tenn remains as distinctive and timeless as ever.

Find antique and vintage Svenskt Tenn mirrors, seating, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Svenskt Tenn
20th Century Swedish Svenskt Tenn Vintage Sofa Table - Diplomat by Josef Frank
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish sofa table "diplomat" made of hand crafted polished Beechwood, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Materials

Beech

Midcentury Modern Library Table/Sideboard by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, 1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
Striking library table or sideboard by Josef Frank, model 2226. Crafted from mahogany with brass drawer handles.
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Swedish Vintage Gueridon Table, Maplewood Side Table by Josef Frank
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish gueridon table with a round top. Designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, Modell 560. Shellac polished, beautiful bird'...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Materials

Maple

Marble and Mahogany Side Table by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
Beautiful side table by Josef Frank, with an oval green marble table top on a slender mahogany base. Deep green marble, lovely sculpted legs and feet.
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Materials

Marble

Mahogany Side Table with a Drawer by Josef Frank
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
Beautiful, innovative side table by Josef Frank, made in mahogany. The upper section has a drawer with a brass handle. Lovely sculpted feet and rims framing the table tops.
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Occasional Table, Marble Top by Josef Frank, Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1940s-1950s
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
An occasional table with marble top. Designed by Josef Frank for Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1940s-1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Svenskt Tenn Side Tables

Materials

Marble

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Svenskt Tenn side tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Svenskt Tenn side tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Svenskt Tenn side tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original side tables by Svenskt Tenn were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in sweden during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider side tables by Carlstrom & Co. Mobelfabrik, Bodafors, and Axel Larsson. Prices for Svenskt Tenn side tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,994 and can go as high as $6,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,522.

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