Tree in bloom

A place to energise and regenerate. For creativity and inspiration. This year’s summer exhibition at Strandvägen 5 is linked to the history of Svenskt Tenn; to Estrid Ericson’s beloved summerhouse Tolvekarna (the Twelve Oaks) and Josef Frank’s lush tree of life.

In the summer exhibition at Strandvägen 5, Cabinet 852, or “The Flora Cabinet” is being relaunched. Its history stems back to 1930 when Estrid Ericson, together with her friend Bo Bergman, visited Carl Linnaeus’ (Carl von Linné) summer residence and was enchanted by the flora poster prints on the bedroom walls. The Paradiset (Paradise) planter by Nils Fougstedt, which has not been in production since 1928, will also be presented along with Josef Frank’s Träd i blom (Tree in bloom) pattern, launched for the first time since it was designed in 1935-1940.

Träd i blom (Tree in bloom) is one of Josef Frank’s earlier tree of life patterns. He created most of them while living in New York during the Second World War, whereas Träd i blom was designed as early as 1935-1940. The Tree of Life is a symbol of the biological life force and has been depicted in various ways throughout history. In Nordic mythology, the Tree of Life grows in Asgard, where the gods dwell, as the Yggdrasil sacred tree, and it spreads its branches all over the world. In China, India and the Near East, the Tree of Life, or Sacred Tree, has long been depicted for decorative purposes. It has become a recurring motif on Persian carpets, Indian chintzes and palampores (hand-painted bedcovers), and also in several of Josef Frank’s botanical prints. His Träd i blom is adorned not only with a variety of colourful flowers but also with red and green pumpkins.