"Swedish Grace"
Wrought Iron Chandelier
Sweden, 1930s

Description:

Suspended by a floriated central stem, this six-armed candelabrum was made in Sweden between the mid-late 1920s and the 1930s. The simple radial design of this chandelier, paired with naturalistic, vegetal accents, is emblematic of the persistence of neo-classicism in Swedish design during the first part of the 20th century.

Coined, "Swedish Grace", by British commentator, Philip Morton Shand, after visiting the Arts and Crafts Pavillion at the 1923 Gothenburg Exhibition, this aesthetic reflected a distinctly Nordic expression of the growing Art Deco movement. Whilst less streamlined and austere, Swedish Grace fused the geometry of Art Deco with classical and folkloric motifs. 

This national aesthetic went boldly on display at the 1925 Paris Exhibition. A neo-classical temple by Carl Bergsten housed the Swedish Pavilion, itself boasting an opulent interior of furniture by Carl Hörvik. A scheme suitably tinged with the glamour of Art Deco, yet firmly lodged in a plethora of classical typologies. For example, the frieze enwrapping the central desk, and the ornate metal chandelier, the latter more evocative of a Roman temple than the sharp, streamlined structures of Art Deco.

This vine-clad chandelier shares a similar aesthetic expression, evocative of the vegetal and folkloric friezes of Anna Petrus. Now rich with a verdigris patina that only enhances its vegetal ornament, this chandelier is perfectly expressive of this juncture between modernism and historicism. Befitting of this duality, the hollow stem of this chandelier allowed it to be electrical as well as candle-lit.  

Specifications:

Diameter: 52cm

Height: 45cm

Drop can be altered with chain length. If you would be interested in having this chandelier converted to take electric bulbs instead of candles, please enquire by emailing info@sigmarlondon.com