Josef Frank Vänskapsknuten Brass Candelabra for Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden 1940s
Josef Frank Vänskapsknuten Brass Candelabra for Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden 1940s
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Price category: 1,000 - 2,500 usd / eur
Josef Frank designed Vänskapsknuten (the Knot of Friendship) as a symbol of friendship and peace at a time when Europe was filled with turmoil. The very first sketch of the candelabra dates back to 1938, just a year before the outbreak of the Second World War, but it is as relevant now as it was then.
The Austrian designer and architect may be best known for his vivid textiles for Swedish firm Svenskt Tenn, but his artistic touch reached far beyond textiles and created iconic objects such as this candle holder. The elaborate brass structure intertwines at multiple points, but the brass rods only meet in the middle where a small sphere connects them. Each of the three brass cup have so-called chambersticks, small pans to catch dripping wax. The looping calligraphic design gives this piece a weightless grace that is stunning even without the symbolism behind it. The body’s busy look is completed and balanced by the long candles. The design changes from angle to angle and shows Frank’s sensitive touch. The Knot of Friendship has become an iconic object not only in Svenskt Tenn’s range, but also of Sweden. The production traditionally required a process of thorough methodology and great craftsmanship. Josef Frank was the most prestigious designer in the Stockholm design company Svenskt Tenn (Swedish Pewter), recruited by the founder of the company, Estrid Ericson herself.
Since 2018, after a careful assessment of Josef Frank’s original drawing, the candelabra regained its original form from 1938 under the hands of Svenskt Tenn. However, the production of this well-known and widely-loved candle holder now takes place at Humstorp Metal in Västergötland. This piece however, is from the original production from the post-war era.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The brass has a beautiful patina with some marks. Due to the nature and age of the material, the item may have some scratches and discolouration.
Dimensions:
8.85 in W x 7.48 in D x 6.29 in H
22.5 cm W x 19 cm D x 16 cm H
About the designer:
Josef Frank (July 15, 1885 – January 8, 1967) was an Austrian-born architect, artist, and designer who adopted Swedish citizenship in the latter half of his life. Together with Oskar Strnad, he created the Vienna School of Architecture, and its concept of Modern houses, housing, and interiors.
Josef Frank was one of early Vienna modernism’s foremost figures, but already in the beginning of the 1920s he started to question modernism’s growing pragmatism. He had little appreciation for the French architect Le Corbusier’s belief that a house should be “a machine for living in”. He was against puritanical principles and on the contrary, feared that standardized interiors would make people all too uniform. Josef Frank represented a freer, more artistic style ideal, and he developed his own type of modernism where values like comfort, hominess, and a wealth of colour were at its core. He resisted limitations and models for his furniture and textiles came from across all boundaries both in time and space.
Josef Frank began working at Svenskt Tenn in 1934 and just a few years later, the Frank-Ericson duo made their international breakthrough. Svenskt Tenn’s exhibition room at the World Expositions in Paris in 1937 and New York in 1939 was completely contrary to the ideal of the time with its bold contrasts in materials, colours, and prints. The duo received a great deal of attention and became, somewhat paradoxically, the model for the expression “Swedish Modern”. Although he was already 50 years old when he left Vienna for Sweden, Frank is considered one of Sweden’s most important designers.
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Price category: 5,000 - 7,500 usd / eur
Mirrors are versatile pieces of interior décor with the power to influence their surroundings; they create depth, increase light reflection, and add a statement to any space. Fusing function and form, mirrors offer useful reflection while also providing an eye-catching focal point in any room. This beautiful Italian mirror is stylish, with a simple but timeless look.
In the early days, mirrors were made from obsidian, a smooth black stone, and metals, such as copper and bronze. The use of glass in mirror-making was initially developed during the rise of the glass industry, and later revolutionised by Murano glass-makers. The play on materials and geometry, with the mirror’s clean and symmetrical lines, creates a neat, modern look. The brass, the ultimate material of 20th century design is balanced out by the glass surface. The reflective facet and the frame are seamlessly connected, making the frame almost seem like it is floating. The organic frame which showcases the beautiful patina of the brass provides simple elegance, making this mirror perfect for bringing some understated modernism into a room.
As this model shows, an accent mirror can fulfill as a clear role in a home, while reflecting the mid-century Italian style. It can serve equally well in a hallway, bathroom or living room, either mounted on a wall or spontaneously leaned against it.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The mirror has recently been reconditioned. Due to the nature and age of the materials, the item has some marks, scratches, chips and discolouration.
Dimensions:
33.27 in W x 0.78 in D x 36.99 in H
84.5 cm W x 2 cm D x 96.5 cm H