Pair of Model "2552" Table Lamps by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden 1930s

Austrian architect and designer Josef Frank has had an enormous impact on the history of Swedish design. Despite being nearly 50 years old when emigrating to Sweden, he is now widely recognised as one of the country’s most important designers of all time.

The design of model “2552“ focuses on the slender brass form. The minimal structures allow the eye to move effortlessly upward toward the shades, which becomes a key feature of the look. The base of the lamps are sleek and gently tapered, exuding a sense of lightness to the overall design - typical of Frank’s approach to furniture - combining modernity with a timeless quality. The fabric shades introduce a juxtaposition against the slim stems. This detail adds a sense of architectural structure, while also shaping the light into a warm, diffused glow. The contrast between the smooth, reflective brass and the textured shade creates a quiet interplay of materials. Despite the simplicity of the model, the proportions are carefully judged, ensuring that all elements work together. This table lamp pair’s presence is an excellent way to elevate the ambience of a room, creating an inviting and stylish atmosphere. They reflect a side of Scandinavian design that prioritises atmosphere and usability, where even the most modest objects are shaped with intention and care.

The Austrian designer and architect, Josef Frank was the most prestigious designer in the Stockholm design company Svenskt Tenn, recruited by the founder of the company, Estrid Ericson herself. Svenskt Tenn hired Josef Frank in 1934, the same year he created the design of this model, making it one of his earliest designs at the company.

Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The table lamps have recently been reconditioned and rewired. The shades are a later replacement. The brass is patinated. There are minor dents and scratches in the metal. Due to the age and nature of the brass, the lamps may have marks, and discolouration. This lamp is compatible with an E26 / E27 (standard) fitting. All lighting can be converted for US usage.

Dimensions:
11.81 in ø x 18.89 in H
30 cm ø x 48 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.

Shipping:
These lamps will be packaged and shipped with the greatest care and attention to make sure you will receive them in gallery condition. Complimentary shipping within the Netherlands.

IMPORTANT!
VAT normally applies and will be added to items when purchased by a European buyer or transported to a location within the EU.