Midcentury Elm Desk by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Svenskt Tenn (Maker),Josef Frank (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.55 in (72.5 cm)Width: 63 in (160 cm)Depth: 27.56 in (70 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good vintage condition consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1638239198062
Josef Frank
Austrian architect and furniture and fabric designer Josef Frank was a leading voice for a gentle, humane modernism. His advocacy of warm, comfortable, eclectically styled environments was highly influential in his adopted country of Sweden, and it’s now widely regarded as a harbinger of the backlash against doctrinaire modernism and the embrace of the homespun that occurred in the late 1960s.
The son of a successful Viennese textile manufacturer, Frank studied architecture at Vienna University of Technology, graduating in 1910. From the first years of his practice, he marched counter to the orderly, symmetrical architectural layouts and decors prescribed by contemporaries such as Adolf Loos.
Frank drafted rooms of varying shapes and called for flexible interior-design arrangements. His furniture pieces are light and easy to move — and his chairs are always made of wood, most often with lushly curved steam-bent arms and slatted backs. Frank openly loathed the tubular steel furnishings and “machine for living” aesthetic promoted by Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and other Bauhaus principals. “The home must not be a mere efficient machine,” Frank once said. “It must offer comfort, rest and coziness…. There are no puritan principles in good interior decoration.”
Frank — who was Jewish — sensed the dire implications of the rise of Nazism in Germany and Austria, and in 1933 he moved to Stockholm with his Swedish wife, Anna. He became the design chief for the furnishings maker Svenskt Tenn and found a perfect match culturally for his brand of simple, relaxed and bright creations. Like many modernists — notably Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard — Frank had a deep love of folk art, which influenced his designs for a wide array of colorful, richly patterned upholstery fabrics, many based on the classic “Tree of Life” motif.
In all his designs, Frank took inspiration from a broad variety of sources. In his furniture, one can discern traces of Asian patterns, Rococo, Italian Renaissance, Scandinavian handicrafts and even Chippendale pieces. As such, the work of Frank — the friendly modernist — is at home in any type of décor.
Find vintage Josef Frank pillows, armchairs, floor lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Stockholm, Sweden
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Midcentury stool by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Stockholm, SENeat stool by Josef Frank, made from mahogany with elegantly sculpted feet. Rattan seat in a densely wreathed pattern.Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsRattan, Wood
- Midcentury Modern table or desk lamp by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Svenskt Tenn, Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SERare, elegant brass table or desk lamp by Josef Frank, with original leather upholstery with some patina on the stem and base. Flexible neck and decorative round brass feet.Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury Modern Pendant Light by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Stockholm, SEElegant brass pendant light by Josef Frank, with three shades. Slender brass frame and decorative brass ball on the chord. Length of chord is adjustable according to preference.Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury Modern Pendant Light by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Svenskt Tenn, Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SEBeautiful brass pendant light by Josef Frank, in an elegant, voluminous design. Shade made from pleated fabric. A decorative brass “anchor” comes out through the bottom of the shade ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury Modern Wall light by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Svenskt Tenn, Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SERare, beautiful wall light by Josef Frank, made from brass with a slender stem suspending a voluminous lamp shade. Adjustable height.Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- 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
- Bar cart by Josef Frank, Svenskt tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Eskilstuna, SEClassic bar cart produced by Svenskt tenn and designed by Josef Frank in the 1950s. Made in brass, glass and wooden handles. Removable tray with handles. This model is a rare one w...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Carts and Bar Carts
MaterialsBrass
- Table model 590 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s, ElmBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Stockholm, SETable model 590 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s. Elm table top, cherry base, and brass. Stamped. Josef Frank was a true European, he was also a pioneer of ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Swedish Tea or Bar Cart by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, 1950sBy Josef Frank, Svenskt TennLocated in Matosinhos, 13A beautiful design piece, imagined by Josef Frank for the Swedish brand Svenskt Tenn in the 1950s. This piece can be used as a bar or tea cart, infusing any space with glamour and ch...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Carts and Bar Carts
MaterialsBrass, Sheet Metal
- Occasional Table, Marble Top by Josef Frank, Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1940s-1950sBy Svenskt Tenn, Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SEAn occasional table with marble top. Designed by Josef Frank for Firma Svenskt Tenn, 1940s-1950s.Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Side Tables
MaterialsMarble
- Occasional Table Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SEOccasional table designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s. Mahogany. Measurements: H: 60 cm/ 23 1/2'' Length when extened: 104 cm/ 3' 5'' D: 54 cm/ 21 1/2'' Jose...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Side Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Occasional Table Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950sBy Josef FrankLocated in Stockholm, SEOccasional table designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden. 1950s. Mahogany. H: 45 cm L: 80 cm D: 40 cm Josef Frank was a true European, he was also a pioneer of what would become classic 20th century Swedish design and the “Scandinavian Design Style”. Austrian- born Frank started his design career as an architect after having trained at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna between 1903 and 1910. After his training he went on to teach at Kunstgewerbeschule (The Viennese School of Arts and crafts) where he developed and espoused the new school of modernist thinking towards Architecture and Design that was coming to fruition in Vienna at the time. He also went on to lead the Vienna Werkbund throughout the 1920s. This was a truly progressive group of Architects and Designers who set about improving the daily lives of Austrian people through modernist design and architecture in partnership with Arts and Crafts ideals and construction. Frank’s leadership of the Werkbund had already cemented his place at the forefront of European design. Frank’s time in Vienna was typified by his design for the “Die Wohnung” exhibition of the Deutscher Werkbund in Stuttgart, 1927 where he exhibited along side his contemporaries at the forefront of design, such as the likes of Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius. Here he showed a specially designed pair of flat-roofed reinforced concrete houses in what is now seen as a typical modernist style. What separated Frank’s house from the other 32 houses of the exhibition was the interior and furniture inside the building. It was described as “Neo-Classical” and filled with an eclectic mix of period pieces, modern design and pieces designed by Frank himself that seemed to cross the two worlds. This was a complete opposite direction to that which his fellow Architects were travelling in with their pared back and angular aesthetics. Frank said of his own work: “The house is not a work of art, simply a place where one lives,” and by this reasoning Frank rejected the regimental mechanisation of the living space that his contemporaries believed in, instead he set about creating congenial and spontaneous interiors. Frank’s practice saw him placing the bright colours and the soft forms of nature back into the furnishings and interiors that he thought modernism sorely mist. Frank, along with Oskar Walch set up Haus und Garten in Vienna in 1925. This was Frank’s first commercial foray into furniture and home furnishings and the company went on to become the most influential furnishing house in Vienna with a riotous depth of colour and interesting shapes becoming the trademark of their design. However this success was to come to an end with rise of Nazism in Vienna in the early 1930’s. Frank was Jewish, and he and his wife Anna decided they would leave Vienna for her motherland: Sweden, in 1933. Frank continued to design for Haus and Garten, visiting Vienna occasionally and designing the pieces that would continue to be the company’s best...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tables
MaterialsMahogany