Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, who recruited Josef Frank to the company 10 years later
Together they created the elegant and boldly patterned personal interior design style that continues to pervade the range to this day.
History
In October 1924, Svenskt Tenn opens its doors on Smålandsgatan in Stockholm. Only thirty years old, Estrid Ericson, the art teacher from Hjo, invests the small inheritance she has just received from her father in her company.
Together with the established pewter artist Nils Fougstedt, Estrid Ericson wants to offer modern pewter objects at reasonable prices. They produce these themselves in the little workshop behind the store. Pewter has quickly become one of the most exciting materials of the era, competing more with the new glass and ceramics of the time than with metals such as silver and silver plating. Svenskt Tenn quickly gains recognition as an established brand of quality, and establishes a name for itself. In 1925, it receives a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris.
Stockholm’s most fashionable interior design store
After just a few years, the name Svenskt Tenn had become misleading, as Estrid Ericson’s interest in interior design is what now dominates the company. Three years on, the store moves to larger premises on Strandvägen, where it is still located today. By the early 1930s, Svenskt Tenn has gained recognition as the most fashionable interior design store in Stockholm. Estrid Ericson commissions the Swedish functionalist architects Uno Åhrén and Björn Trägårdh as Svenskt Tenn’s unique range of furniture and interior designs take form. Estrid Ericson’s sense of beauty and quality evolve in tact with her wanderlust, and shopping expeditions take her to North and South America, England, France and Italy.
In 1932, Estrid Ericson orders the first furniture from the already well-established Austrian architect Josef Frank, and the collaboration intensifies rapidly. She hires Josef Frank in 1934, when he fled the burgeoning nazism in Austria for Sweden together with his Swedish wife.
Lifelong design collaboration
The cooperation between Estrid Ericson and Josef Frank remained not only lifelong but also one of Swedish design history’s most interesting partnerships. It is soon revealed that Estrid Ericson’s artistry and entrepreneurship in combination with Josef Frank’s vision of human modernism was a recipe for success. He designs the furniture and textiles and she has the eye for detail and presentation.
Estrid Ericson ran the daily operations of the company until 1975, when she, at the age of 81, sold the company to The Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation. After the sale she stayed on as the Managing Director of the company for several years.
The time after Estrid Ericson
In 1979, Ann Wall takes over the role as Managing Director and it is she who transforms Svenskt Tenn into the well managed and profitable business it is today. It is under Ann Wall’s leadership that the company receives the radical modernization that it sorely needs. Estrid Ericson had run the company with antiquated administrative and financial systems and procedures. A careful renewal of the product range was coordinated with window displays and marketing. Collaborations with selected new designers as well as art and design schools are established.
In 1999, Ann Wall retires after 20 years as Managing Director. The Svenskt Tenn’s owners, The Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation, establish the Ann Wall Design Prize in her name. The prize is part of Svenskt Tenn’s new business concept “to preserve the spirit of Estrid Ericson and Josef Frank in a modern form.”
More designs from Svenskt Tenn:
Svenskt Tenn @ 3daysofdesign
Svenskt Tenn at 3daysofdesign 17–20 June 2025 Overgaden Neden Vandet 33, Copenhagen For the first …
Josef Frank: 140 Years of Timeless Design Shaping Modern Living
Design History Milestone: Josef Frank’s 140th Birth Anniversary Josef Frank, (1885 – 1967) a prominent …
Centenary Celebration @ Svenskt Tenn Strandvägen 5
Centenary Celebration at the store on Strandvägen 5 On 25 October 2024, Svenskt Tenn will …
Svenskt Tenn: A Philosophy of Home @ Liljevalchs
On September 27, Svenskt Tenn: A Philosophy of Home opens at Liljevalchs in Stockholm The …
The Mignon lamp was designed in the 1950s-1960s but has been produced for the first time for Svenskt Tenn’s 100th anniversary in 2024
New arrivals by Josef Frank Among the autumn arrivals at Svenskt Tenn are these outstanding …
Carina Seth Andersson is back with a new vase The Pomona in two different sizes – Svenskt Tenn
Carina Seth Andersson, designer of the iconic Dagg vase, is back with a new vase …
Beckmans Students Excel with Glass Design in the Collaboration with Svenskt Tenn
This year’s Svenskt Tenn Glass Scholarship for 2023 is awarded to the talented student Anna …
Traditional pleating techniques in focus when Folkform presents new collection for Svenskt Tenn
Art and design duo Folkform interprets Josef Frank’s pattern universe in a new lighting collection …
The exhibition Scents of Summer @ Svenskt Tenn
“Sowing a seed, planting a tree, breaking off a rose, picking an apple, waking up …
The exhibition New Dawn opens at Svenskt Tenn on April 26. The name of the exhibition relates to faith in the future
A number of new products from five different designers will be launched in this year’s …
Josef Frank designed The Aurora Wallpaper in 1947. Now, for the spring of 2021, it has been brought back – Svenskt Tenn
Wallpaper Aurora With their pink, blue and violet tones, reminiscent of a shimmering morning light, …
Food for Thought – Beckmans x Svenskt Tenn x Beijerinstitutet
Food for the future is the theme of the exhibition Food for Thought in which …
“For me, glass is poetic. It has a sensual power and beauty.” Ingegerd Råman
Orrefors presents new products by Ingegerd Råman who, with her functional, subtracted and timelessly elegant …
Svenskt Tenn / Chairs by Josef Frank exhibition
Shown at Strandvägen 5 08.02.2021 – 14.03.2021 Josef Frank had his own philosophy regarding …
Bölja corkscrew designed by Daniel Enoksson for legendary Swedish company Svenskt Tenn
Bölja corkscrew designed by Daniel Enoksson for legendary Swedish company Svenskt Tenn The corkscrew is …
The Famna sofa is designed by Gabriella Lenke & Mattias Ståhlbom – Svenskt Tenn
“The meeting between contemporary design and Josef Frank’s and Estrid Ericson’s classic eclecticism was the …
Josef Frank’s Flora @ Sofiero Palace
Exhibiting at Sofiero Palace 29.04.2020 – 20.09.2020 “Will Frank’s flowers ever wilt? It doesn’t seem …
Swedish Tenn turns 95 years old to day!
Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, who recruited Josef Frank to the …
Welcome The Biosphere @ Svenskt Tenn
SVENSKT TENN EXHIBITS “Welcome the biosphere” 23.08.2019 – 27.10.2019 In this exhibition you will find …
Luca Nichetto – Heritage @ Svenskt Tenn
Luca Nichetto – Heritage. 5/2–31/3 2019 Designer Luca Nichetto was born in Venice in 1976 …
Hösten 2017 är svart på Svenskt Tenn
Höstmörkret har letat sig in i Svenskt Tenns butik på Strandvägen 5. I en ny …
Indoors turns outdoors at Svenskt Tenn during summertime
As the summer exhibition ”Window” opens at Svenskt Tenn, the line between indoors and outdoors …
Hanna Tunemar får Svenskt Tenns Designstipendium 2014
Svenskt Tenn har instiftat ett designstipendium, som årligen tilldelas en avgångsstudent på formlinjen vid Beckmans …
Dining Table Á Table by Jonas Bohlin – Svenskt Tenn
Interior architect and designer Jonas Bohlin grew up with Josef Frank’s material world and sees …
Ingegerd Råman has created the Crystal Flora glass set exclusively for Svenskt Tenn
Designer Ingegerd Råman has created the Crystal Flora glass set exclusively for Svenskt Tenn. The …
Svenskt Tenn lanserar nya produkter
Svenskt Tenn lanserar nya produkter av fem nutida svenska formgivare Svenskt Tenn fortsätter att samarbeta …
Svenskt Tenn visar unik samling skulpturer av HC Ericson
När Eric Ericson och hans syskon gick igenom det som deras far, formgivaren HC Ericson, …
Carina Seth Andersson @ Svenskt Tenn
Svenskt Tenn visar Carina Seth Anderssons formgivning i utställning på Strandvägen 5 Fredag den 31 …
Angel Stool design by Anna Kraitz for Svenskt Tenn
ANGEL To see, to remember, to understand. It all depends on where you stand. (from”De …