Scandinavian modernist jewelry

Photo: Nordiska Style

I found this pewter necklace a few days ago in a second-hand store. It's swedish, and it's signed Rune Tennesmed. Designed in the late 60's or 70's. I love the orange glass beads! It's always fun to find a piece that catches your eye, signed or not, without having any idea who the designer might be. Then you make some research and you end up going to bed at 2 am because you can't stop reading about your new interest!
I don't know why, but I never really took the time to read about scandinavian modernist jewelry. Those clean lines, geometric shapes and organic designs inspired by nature (melting icicles, volcanic lava, rocks, moss, etc.)... I just can't get enough!

First stop, Finland:

Photo via Purist Pro

Earrings, Pentti Sarpaneva

Photo: Ruby Lane

Moss flower pendant necklace, Hannu Ikonen

Photo: Didier Antiques

Silver Moon pendant necklace, Tapio Wirkkala

...Sweden:

Photo: Grasilver

Armring, Bengt Hallberg

Photo: Tradera

Bronze necklace, KE Palmberg Alton

Photo: M. Schon

Silver bracelet, Claes Giertta

... Denmark:

Photo: Grasilver

Armring, Astrid Fog for Georg Jensen

Photo: Grasilver

Silver necklace, Anton Michelsen

Photo: Grasilver

Silver neckring, Bent Gabrielsen

...And Norway:

Photo: Utopia

Silver necklace, Bjorn Sigurd Ostern for David-Andersen

Photo: Lush Life Antiques

Silver ring, Anna Greta Eker

Some of the pieces shown above are rare and expensive (but oh so gorgeous!). To start a collection, I'd suggest to go for bronze or pewter, Ebay, Etsy or Tradera are great places to find vintage scandinavian jewelry. And if you're ready to invest in a silver statement piece, you can visit this wonderful store. 

That one is also amazing, and both websites are fantastic sources of information if you want to know more about the designers.

The Teak Menagerie

I'm a sucker for anything teak. Chairs, tables, trays, sideboards, night stands and... animals! Is that true that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing? Good that I have some self discipline (ok, no space or big budget), or I'd become a teak hoarder, if such a thing exists. I love the grain of the wood, the warmth, the color, even the smell of it when it has just been oiled. But in a small apartment, it's difficult to collect sideboards, so small pieces, like these mid-century animal sculptures are perfect for me!

Photos: Nordiska Style

(Josef Frank wallpaper in the background!)

Erik Bruun: Great graphic design made in Finland

I love graphic design, and I'm a huge fan of Erik Bruun's work. Bruun (b. 1926) is a prolific Finnish graphic designer who has designed brand guidelines, logotypes, books, postcards, stamps and even Finnish banknotes. But the designer is best known for his commercial posters from the 50's and 60's, and many of them are now classics. His most famous design is definitely the stylized orange slice, from his project for Jaffa, a soft drink produced in Finland and Sweden.

Check out his website for more great, colourful mid-century graphics and illustrations that reflects the man's love for the beautiful Finnish nature.

You can also buy first edition vintage posters, the stock is not going to last forever so if you like them, you should not wait to long! I was thinking ordering this one:

Photos: Erik Bruun

"Swedish Animals", Royal Tableware by Bernadotte & Kylberg

Design duo Bernadotte (Prince Carl Philip of Sweden) & (Oscar) Kylberg recently launched a collection of porcelain dishes for Gustavsbergs Porcelain Factory. The playful collection is called "Svenska Djur" (Swedish Animals) and the two first pieces feature a hare and a mole. Inspired by nordic nature and children's imagery (the Prince is Princess Victoria's baby daughter Estelle's uncle and godfather), Bernadotte & Kylberg's tableware is a must for those who love great design, animals, walks in the woods and fairy tales!

It's a bit of the pricey side, but it would make a lovely "Made in Sweden" gift for a baby shower !

Available at NK if you're in Stockholm, or online here and here.

Photos: Dukatbord

Prince Carl Philip (left) completed in 2006 a course in Graphic Design in Stockholm. He also studied design at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2007. Oscar Kylberg is a graphic designer, and "Svenska Djur" is their first collaboration.