Across history and cultures, from the ancient Chinese to the Celts and beyond, the knot has become known as a symbol of unity. Few incarnations though are as closely tied to the idea of peace than the ‘Knot of Friendship’ ( or ‘Vänskapsknute’) candelabra by Josef Frank.
Perhaps better know for his vivid and often abstract floral prints for brand Svenskt Tenn (as well as ‘Pleated for Frank’ lighting collection by Folkform that launched in honour of his legacy at Stockholm Design Week earlier this year), the 20th-century designer’s personal strife was the inspiration behind this more minimalist offering.
Architect and designer Frank had left his home country of Austria in 1933 due to growing anti-Semitism and turmoil, moving to Sweden where he began his long-running collaboration with Svenskt Tenn founder Estrid Ericson. As the world’s political landscape continued to worsen and divisions grew, Franks’ thoughts turned to a hope for peace. The very first sketch of the candelabra dates back to 1938, just a year before the outbreak of the Second World War.
The piece has since become an iconic object in the Svenskt Tenn collection, available ever since. It is this year, however, with the world again seemingly on a dark trajectory, that the design’s message of peace feels more necessary than ever.
The candelabra is made at the firm’s Humstorp Metal workshop in Västergötland, western Sweden, with the production of each candelabra seeing it pass through at least eight pairs of hands before it is completed. It begins as a series of brass rods, all measuring four metres long, that need to be cut down to size before being polished and bent into Franks’ recognisable knotted form, available in brass or silver-plater varieties.
As we look towards prime dinner party season, it’s a perfect time to focus again on this most beautiful and poignant of centrepieces. From £228, svenskttenn.com
