Manufacturer · Sweden · Stockholm · est. 1924
Svenskt Tenn
Svenskt Tenn – Stockholm interior design house founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, associated with architect Josef Frank from 1934.
About the manufacturer
- Years active
- est. 1924
- Country
- Sweden
- Location
- Stockholm
- Designers
- Josef Frank
Estrid Ericson (1894–1981), born in Öregrund, opened Svenskt Tenn AB in Stockholm on 24 October 1924. The company grew out of the earlier Konsthantverkets Verkstad, which she ran together with the Fougstedt brothers. Initially, it specialised in pewter objects – hence the name, which means ‘Swedish pewter’ in Swedish – and its principal designer was the artist Nils Fougstedt. As early as 1925, Svenskt Tenn products received the Grand Prix at a decorative arts exhibition in Paris.
In 1927, the shop moved to Strandvägen 5, where it remains to this day. From 1930, the range also included furniture and rugs. In 1932, Ericson commissioned the first pieces of furniture from the Austrian architect Josef Frank, and in January 1934 she employed him permanently. Frank worked for the company until his death in 1967; his furniture, textiles and lamps permanently defined the house’s range. A posthumous exhibition of Frank’s work was organised by Nationalmuseum in Stockholm in 1968.
In 1975, Svenskt Tenn was taken over by the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation. At MIDMOD, objects from this brand appear only occasionally – each is a single piece from the secondary market.
