Stockholm cabinet
Historical treasures at Liljevalchs
Two historic pieces by Josef Frank are currently featured in the retrospective Svenskt Tenn: A Philosophy of Home at Liljevalchs in Stockholm. The Monkey Cabinet and the original Liljevalchs Sofa, both iconic examples of Svenskt Tenn’s design legacy, have been loaned to the exhibition by Jackson Design—a premier gallery specialising in 20th-century Scandinavian and international vintage design.
“Jacksons has been collecting and dealing in important historical pieces from Svenskt Tenn for over thirty years, always seeking out the very best we can find,” says Paul Jackson, founder of the company.
Paul Jackson“The Monkey Cabinet is a perfect example of Estrid Ericson’s innate ability to work with and develop found objects, brilliantly displaying the symbiosis she had with Josef Frank.”
About the pieces
The Monkey Cabinet is adorned with 40 coloured lithographs of monkeys from Histoire Naturelle, a celebrated 18th-century natural history tome by French naturalist George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon published in 1749. Estrid Ericson discovered the prints in a small antique shop and brought them to Josef Frank, who then created the cabinet. The piece exemplifies the exceptional collaboration and synergy between Josef Frank and Svenskt Tenn’s founder, Estrid Ericson.
“The Monkey Cabinet is a perfect example of Estrid Ericson’s innate ability to work with and develop found objects, brilliantly displaying the symbiosis she had with Josef Frank.” says Paul Jackson.
The Liljevalchs sofa from Jackson’s collection.
The other historic piece, the original Liljevalchs Sofa, is a testament to Frank’s mastery of comfort and form. He had only recently arrived in Sweden and started working for Svenskt Tenn when he first presented the sofa at the exhibition Standard for Housing and Furniture at Liljevalchs in Stockholm. Following the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition, Functionalism became popular, and Standard for Housing and Furniture primarily featured sleek, functional furniture without “unnecessary” decoration. Josef Frank diverged by presenting an undeniably extravagant sofa, luxuriously upholstered in floral chintz, marking a bold departure from the conventions of the time.
Paul Jackson“Jacksons has been collecting and dealing in important historical pieces from Svenskt Tenn for over thirty years, always seeking out the very best we can find.”
Pewter objects on display at Sibyllegatan 53.
The Svenskt Tenn: Another Context Exhibition
The Liljevalchs retrospective is not the only current exhibition showcasing Svenskt Tenn’s legacy. Jackson Design is presenting Svenskt Tenn: Another Context – an exhibition on Sibyllegatan in Stockholm, designed by architects Christian and Ruxandra Halleroed. This exhibition celebrates Svenskt Tenn’s eclectic design heritage, divided into three distinct rooms: one featuring lacquered furniture from the 1930s, another showcasing Josef Frank’s iconic cabinets, and a third dedicated to pewter objects by designers such as Estrid Ericson, Anna Petrus, Nils Fougstedt and others.
Reflecting on Svenskt Tenn’s enduring relevance, Jackson remarks, “There is a growing international appeal to Svenskt Tenn and we see this continuing long into the future. Both Josef Frank and Estrid Ericson believed that a home was never finished but constantly evolving, and we have to agree.”
The exhibition Svenskt Tenn: Another Context is shown at Jackson Design on Sibyllegatan 53 in Stockholm until 18 January 2025.
Exhibition at Jackson Design.
