J. L. Hultman Art Deco Pewter Vase for Svenskt Tenn, 1930s

Rare Art Deco pewter vase designed by J. L. Hultman for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1930s. Signed 'J.L.H. Svenskt Tenn G8'. Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson and received a gold medal at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs. A fine example of Swedish modernist craftsmanship in excellent antique condition. J. L. Hultman, Swedish silversmith and designer associated with Svenskt Tenn, Sweden. Stockholm-based interiors firm and design production house Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by 30-year-old art teacher Estrid Ericson. Inspired by the English Arts & Crafts movement and using a small inheritance from her father as seed money, Ericson hoped to capitalize on the trendiness of modern pewter objects in Sweden at the time. Partnering with pewter artist Nils Fougstedt, she began to produce an array of pewter collections in a small workshop behind their storefront. The brand, which translates to “Swedish Tin,” quickly established a reputation for quality and fashionable taste. In 1925, Svenskt Tenn received a gold medal at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. By the end of the 1920s, Ericson was regularly taking on commissions to create interior designs, and the company moved to a larger location on the prestigious Strandvägen Boulevard—where it’s still located today. As Svenskt Tenn’s business continued to grow in the 1930s, Ericson began to collaborate with outside designers, such as Uno Åhrén and Björn Trägårdh, to create new furniture collections, while also traveling around the world for inspiration and client cultivation.