Swedish Grace, Pewter / Jewelry Box, Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1929. Attr. Uno Åhren.
View Similar Items
Swedish Grace, Pewter / Jewelry Box, Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1929. Attr. Uno Åhren.
About the Item
- Creator:Svenskt Tenn (Manufacturer),Nils Fougstedt (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 1.38 in (3.5 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1929
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7480231596132
Svenskt Tenn
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.
- Josef Frank, table lamp model 2332, Firma Svenskt Tenn, Scandinavian ModernBy Svenskt Tenn, Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SEJosef Frank table lamp, model 3223. Designed in 1932 for Firma Svenskt Tenn. In solid brass, marked Svenskt Tenn 3223. This example is made during mid-1900s.Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Pewter bonbonnière, by Sylvia Stave, CG Hallberg, Swedish Grace /Art Deco 1933By Sylvia Stave, CG HallbergLocated in Stockholm, SEA rare, beautiful pewter bonbonnière and flower decor, attributed Sylvia Stave, Sweden 1933. Manufactured by CG. Hallberg, with hallmarks. In good condition. Smaller signs of age and...Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Decorative Boxes
MaterialsPewter
- Nils Fougstedt, pewter mirror, for FAK, Sweden 1930s / Art Deco / Swedish GraceBy Nils Fougstedt, Fabriksaktiebolaget KronsilverLocated in Stockholm, SEA decorative wall mirror by Nils Fougstedt for FAK / FAK Fabriksaktiebolaget Kronsilver, 1930s. Made in Sweden, Art Deco / Swedish Grace. The pewter frame...Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Wall Mirrors
MaterialsPewter
- Josef Frank, Floor lamp model 2564, for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s. Nice patinaBy Svenskt Tenn, Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SEStunning floor lamp model 2564 by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s. The polished and black lacquered brass stem and base sits on four turned walnut legs. The piece also f...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Bernham Linder, Hammered Copper Box, Jugend, Sweden Early 1900sLocated in Stockholm, SEA rare box in hammered copper, by and marked Bernham Linder. Jugend, Sweden early 1900s. In good condition, smaller sign of age and wear.Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Jugendstil Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCopper
- Edvin Ollers, Mirror in Pewter, Swedish Grace, 1920sBy Edvin OllersLocated in Stockholm, SEA decorative mirror in pewter by swedish designer Edvin Ollers, dated A8/1927. Marked with Ollers and Stockholm hallmarks. Nice patina, normal signs of age, smaller signs of wear...Category
Vintage 1920s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsPewter
- Pewter Box by Nils Fougstedt, Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1953By Svenskt Tenn, Nils FougstedtLocated in Hägersten, SEBox designed by Nils Fougstedt. Produced by Firma Svenskt Tenn, this example made in 1953. Made from pewter with brass edges. Good vintage condition with age related patina and wear....Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsBrass, Pewter
- Anna Petrus, Pewter box, Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1929By Svenskt Tenn, Anna PetrusLocated in Stockholm, SEBox with decor of a lion, brass and pewter. Designed by Anna Petrus for Firma Svenskt Tenn. Marked C8 = 1929.Category
Vintage 1920s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsBrass, Pewter
- Anna Petrus Firma Svenskt Tenn Lion Box 1929By Svenskt Tenn, Anna PetrusLocated in Stockholm, SEBox in brass and pewter with decor of a leaping lion. Designed by Anna Petrus for Firma Svenskt Tenn.Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Decorative Boxes
MaterialsPewter, Brass
- Anna Petrus, Pewter Box, Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1928By Svenskt Tenn, Anna PetrusLocated in Stockholm, SEBox in brass and pewter with decor of a womans face. Designed by Anna Petrus for Firma Svenskt Tenn. Marked B8 = 1928.Category
Vintage 1920s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsBrass, Pewter
- Anna Petrus Firma Svenskt Tenn Pewter Box Womens FaceBy Svenskt Tenn, Anna PetrusLocated in Stockholm, SEBox in brass and pewter with decor of a womans face. Designed by Anna Petrus for Firma Svenskt Tenn. Marked B8 = 1928. Anna Petrus was a sculptor and designer at the beginning of the 20th Century. After her death, Anna Petrus' work was almost forgotten, but in recent years, it been rediscovered. And now, her sculptures are sought after-objects. She was born Anna Petersson, the daughter of a medical professor and a countess, and took the surname when she studied at the Academy of Arts. She inherited a small fortune at age 11 when her mother died, which enabled her to educate in London and travel to Italy and France. Anna Petrus had her international breakthrough at the Paris World Fair in 1925, where she displayed pewter and cast iron objects...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Decorative Boxes
MaterialsPewter, Brass
- Swedish Grace Candelabras by Firma Svenskt Tenn in Pewter- a PairBy Svenskt TennLocated in St.Petersburg, FLAn early pair of pewter candelabras produced by Firma Svenskt Tenn, circa 1930s. Great organic form versatile size. Hard to find a matching early pair such as these.Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Candelabras
MaterialsMetal