Noah’s ark Nesting Table
The Noah’s Ark Nesting Tables were created in a limited edition of 30 pieces to mark Svenskt Tenn’s centenary in 2024. Each table was hand-engraved by Michiko Englund and crafted by cabinetmaker Martin Altwegg, based on an original design from the Svenskt Tenn archive. Every piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity in the form of a numbered plaque.
Nesting table by Nils Fougstedt and Svenskt Tenn
Nils Fougstedt (1881 – 1954) was a sculptor, pewter artist, and art craftsman. In the summer of 1924, he and Estrid Ericson founded “Konsthantverkets verkstad” where they and two other employees produced and sold pewter objects at Kungsholmstorg in Stockholm. The interest for their products grew quickly and just a few months later; in October 1924, Estrid Ericson opened Firma Svenskt Tenn with a store and workshop at Smålandsgatan through her own means. Throughout the years, Nils Fougstedt created many beautiful designs for Svenskt Tenn, such as the engraved tabletops for the Noah's Ark nesting table in 1927.
Hand engraving by Michiko Englund
Michiko Englund (1951–2025) worked as an engraver for more than fifty years. In the early 2000s, she further developed her expertise in artistic engraving by studying under the Italian master engraver Cesare Giovanelli at Bottega Incisioni Cesare Giovanelli in Brescia.
Englund collaborated with Svenskt Tenn for many years. Among her commissions was the engraving of the Stockholm Table by Josef Frank and Nils Fougstedt in 2011. For SvensktTenn’s centenary in 2024, she was commissioned to engrave the Noah’s Ark Nesting Tables.
Michiko Englund“I am the artisan, Nils Fougstedt is the designer. My role is to bring
his work to life and interpret his creative expression. My task is to get as close to the original as possible.”
Working method and process
The intricate nature of the motif made the work particularly demanding. The animals’ textures, shadows and subtle tonal variations required a highly specialised technique. Before the engraving began, extensive research was carried out to determine which tools had been used in the 1930s. Months of preparation resulted in a combination of inherited implements, borrowed tools and modern equipment.
By combining older and newer tools with both traditional and self-developed working methods, Michiko recreated the motifs as closely as possible to the original execution. With a background in jewellery engraving, she worked across different scales, from smaller objects to furniture for Svenskt Tenn.
