Bamboo Coffee Table, Svenskt Tenn, 1960s
View Similar Items
Bamboo Coffee Table, Svenskt Tenn, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Svenskt Tenn (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 61 in (154.94 cm)Depth: 40.3 in (102.37 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU172827726693
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.
- Marble Coffee Table by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Stockholm, SEElegant coffee table by Josef Frank, with a mahogany base and black marble coffee top. Elegant, light base contrasts with the heavy top. Rounded corners.Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMarble
- Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn 'Model 2139' Coffee Table in Walnut BurlBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Waalwijk, NLJosef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, coffee table model 2139, walnut burl top, walnut legs, maple rim, Sweden, design 1948, manufactured ca. 1955 This classic coffee table is designed by J...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMaple, Walnut, Burl
- "Diplomat" Coffee Table, Model 2073, Svenskt TennBy Josef FrankLocated in New York, NYDesigned by the iconic and sought after Josef Frank, this a beautiful example of his "Diplomat" coffee table, model 2073, made by Svenskt Tenn, S...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- 20th Century Swedish Vintage Svenskt Tenn Mahogany Coffee Table by Josef FrankBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA square, vintage Mid-Century modern Swedish coffee table made of hand crafted polished Mahogany, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn in good condition. The Scandina...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Bamboo Coffee Table, 1960sLocated in Palermo, PABamboo coffee table, 1960s. Dimensions: H=44 cm; W= 62cm; D=62 cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsBamboo
- Occasional table model U 601 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, SwedenBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Stockholm, SEOccasional table model U 601 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1960s / 1970s. Mahogany, glass and brass. The map is a replica of the world map drawn by the Venetian...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsBrass