What Svenskt Tenn does

Svenskt Tenn is a Stockholm-based, foundation-owned Swedish interior design company founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson. The company designs, produces, and retails a curated portfolio of handcrafted furniture, textiles, table settings, pewter objects, lighting, wallpaper, accessories, and fashion, with over 80% of the range consisting of original designs by Josef Frank (hired in 1934), Estrid Ericson, and contemporary designers such as Fornasetti, Carina Seth Andersson, and Anna Petrus. Production is carried out by approximately 25 specialized Swedish workshops and two glassworks employing master cabinetmakers, glassblowers, seamstresses, metalsmiths, and ceramicists, with signature cabinet and glass cabinet pieces (such as Cabinet 852 and Cabinet 2192) made to order using hardwoods including mahogany, birch, and walnut.

The company operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model anchored by its flagship store at Strandvägen 5 in Stockholm, designed by Uno Åhrén in 1927 and serving as a combined retail, café, and exhibition destination, supplemented by a global DTC e-commerce platform with international shipping (including USD transactions to the United States). Additional revenue streams include a professional Interior Design Studio, a dedicated Business division serving corporate and hospitality clients, an in-store Concierge service, and the educational Svenskt Tenn Akademi. Pricing is unit-based and pay-as-you-go for retail, with bespoke quotes for interior design and corporate engagements.

Since 1975, Svenskt Tenn has been owned by the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation, a nonprofit under which company surpluses are donated to scientific research in sustainability, genetics, neuroscience, pharmaceutical research, animal research, and AI, with approximately 300 million SEK contributed since the acquisition. This ownership structure underpins a long-term, perpetuity-oriented operating model in which the company serves individual design enthusiasts, corporate clients, and design collectors through a combination of heritage craftsmanship, exclusive access to the Josef Frank design archive (over 3,000 sketches and 250 textile patterns), and cultural programming including exhibitions and editorial content via The Journal.

Name

Svenskt Tenn

Legal name

Svenskt Tenn

Website

https://svenskttenn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Svenskt Tenn is a Stockholm-based, foundation-owned Swedish interior design company founded in 1924, designing and producing handcrafted furniture, textiles, table settings, pewter, and accessories rooted in the Josef Frank archive, sold through its flagship store and global e-commerce platform to design enthusiasts and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home Furnishings and Interior Design

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141), Nonupholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing (337122)

SIC

Household Furniture (2510), Wood Household Furniture, (No Upholstered) (2511)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kitchen Cabinets & Custom Millwork Showrooms (CRAIAFAA), Custom Cabinet Design & Build (HSAPAIAA)

Keywords

• Classic interior design
• Handcrafted Swedish furniture
• Josef Frank textiles
• Table settings tableware
• Pewter home accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Furniture and Cabinetry: Sale of handcrafted furniture including cabinets, sideboards, glass cabinets, and console tables designed primarily by Josef Frank. Products are made to order by master Swedish cabinetmakers.
2. Product Sales - Table Settings and Homeware: Sale of table setting products including plates, bowls, placemats, napkins, tablecloths, glassware, cutlery, and decorative accessories. Also includes pewter objects, vases, and serving pieces.
3. Product Sales - Textiles and Fabrics: Sale of printed and solid colour table fabrics, upholstery textiles, and kitchen-dining textiles featuring Josef Frank's signature botanical patterns.
4. Interior Design Services: Bespoke interior design studio services creating environments tailored to individual customer requirements.
5. Business and Corporate Services: Long-term personal contact services for business and corporate customers seeking interior design solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Svenskt Tenn designs, produces, and retails classic Swedish interior design products including handcrafted furniture (Josef Frank cabinets, glass cabinets, sideboards, console tables), printed textiles and fabrics, table settings (plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery, placemats, napkins, tablecloths), pewter objects, lighting, wallpaper, and decorative accessories. The company complements product sales with bespoke interior design services through the Interior Design Studio, corporate Business Services, in-store Concierge, and the Svenskt Tenn Akademi educational program. Approximately 25 workshops and two glassworks across Sweden produce the handcrafted range.

Product overview

Svenskt Tenn is a Swedish interior design company established in 1924, offering a diverse portfolio of classic interior design products and services. The company operates as a unified platform combining furniture, table settings, textiles, pewter objects, lighting, wallpaper, and accessories. The product range is anchored by Josef Frank's furniture legacy, including signature cabinets (Cabinet 852, 522, 2192), glass cabinets, sideboards, and console tables designed between 1930-1957. Table setting collection includes plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery, placemats featuring Frank's iconic patterns (Vegetable Tree, Navigare, Gröna Fåglar), napkins, and tablecloths. The company also provides services through its Interior Design Studio, Business division, Concierge, and Svenskt Tenn Akademi. Svenskt Tenn collaborates with approximately 25 workshops and two glassworks in Sweden, with products still handcrafted by artisans including carpenters, glassblowers, seamstresses, metalsmiths, and ceramicists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Furniture Collection Handcrafted furniture collection including signature Josef Frank cabinets, glass cabinets, sideboards, and console tables designed between 1930 and 1957, characterized by high legs and interplay of materials, produced by master Swedish cabinetmakers.
• Table Settings Range A 481-product range of table setting items including plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery, napkins, tablecloths, placemats, trivets, jugs, carafes, serving plates, platters, trays, and decorative accessories for everyday use and special occasions.
• Textiles and Fabrics Printed and solid colour table fabrics, upholstery textiles, and kitchen-dining textiles featuring Josef Frank's signature botanical patterns including Vegetable Tree, Navigare, Gröna Fåglar, Italian Dinner, and Världskarta, plus napkins and tablecloths.
• Pewter Objects Pewter objects and accessories including vases (e.g., Vase Pumpkin), decorative items, and table setting details crafted from pewter — the original product when the company was founded in 1924.
• Lighting Lighting fixtures and lamps designed to complement interior spaces.
• Wallpaper Wallpaper designs for interior decoration.
• Decorative Accessories Decorative accessories including vases, candle holders, and ornamental objects for interior decoration.
• Gifts and Gift Cards Gift items and gift cards for recipients.
• Fashion Fashion items featuring Svenskt Tenn's design aesthetic.
• Interior Design Studio Professional interior design service with a team of interior designers and textile designers who create customized environments for clients based at the Strandvägen 5 store.
• Business Services Business services providing companies with long-term personal contacts for corporate purchases, bulk orders, and dedicated account management of interior design solutions.
• Concierge Service In-store concierge service offering personalised shopping assistance and pre-ordered item pickup.
• Svenskt Tenn Akademi Educational program offering courses related to design, craftsmanship, and interior design philosophy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-breaking prices achieved at leading international auction houses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Villa Beer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Svenskt Tenn will furnish rooms at Villa Beer in Vienna, a modernist house designed by Josef Frank and Oskar Wlach in 1930. The restoration project, led by the Villa Beer Foundation, will open to the public for guided tours, educational programmes, and an artists-in-residence programme starting March 2025. This partnership showcases Svenskt Tenn's continued connection to Josef Frank's architectural legacy.
• Swedish Workshops and GlassworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSvenskt Tenn collaborates with approximately 25 workshops and two glassworks across Sweden. These include carpenters, glassblowers, seamstresses, metalsmiths, ceramicists and other artisans who produce furniture and objects that make up Svenskt Tenn's product range. The company maintains long-term relationships with master craftspeople, including cabinetmakers who have produced Josef Frank designs for nearly 20 years.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Design Within Reach: US-based specialty retailer of authentic modern designer furniture and home accessories, founded in 1998 and now part of MillerKnoll. Closely comparable as a multi-channel (showroom + e-commerce) retailer of iconic designer pieces to design-conscious consumers, though with a broader brand portfolio and contemporary positioning.
• Marimekko: Finnish heritage design house founded in 1951, known for bold printed textiles and home goods. Highly comparable as a Nordic design heritage brand with archival textile prints, multi-channel retail (flagship + e-commerce), and a focus on iconic designer collaborations turned durable product lines.
• Carl Hansen & Søn: Danish heritage manufacturer and retailer of designer furniture, founded 1908, with showrooms worldwide. Comparable as a Scandinavian heritage brand producing handcrafted designer furniture (notably Hans Wegner pieces) through a network of skilled craftspeople, with direct-to-consumer and B2B channels.
• Fritz Hansen: Danish designer furniture manufacturer and retailer founded 1872, producing iconic pieces by Arne Jacobsen and others. Comparable to Svenskt Tenn as a Scandinavian heritage furniture brand combining archival designer IP, premium positioning, multi-channel retail, and craftsmanship-led production.
• Georg Jensen: Danish luxury heritage brand founded 1904, known for silverware, tableware, and home objects. Comparable to Svenskt Tenn in Nordic heritage luxury positioning, founder-designer IP, table-setting product range, and global flagship + e-commerce retail model.
• Cassina: Italian luxury designer furniture manufacturer (now part of Haworth) with a deep archive of modernist designer collaborations including Le Corbusier and Gio Ponti. Comparable to Svenskt Tenn in archival designer-IP-based furniture, premium positioning, and heritage-led brand storytelling.
• Hay: Danish contemporary design brand founded 2002, producing furniture, textiles, and home accessories with strong retail and contract channels. Comparable as a Scandinavian multi-category design retailer, though positioned more contemporary and accessible than Svenskt Tenn's heritage luxury.
• BoConcept: Danish furniture retailer and manufacturer founded 1952 with a global franchise network of 300+ stores. Comparable to Svenskt Tenn as a Danish-rooted designer furniture brand with multi-channel retail and customizable modern furniture, though more mass-market accessible and franchise-led.

Broad incumbents

• Vitra: Swiss family-owned design company producing iconic furniture by Charles & Ray Eames, Verner Panton, and others, with a global showroom network and the Vitra Design Museum. Comparable to Svenskt Tenn in designer-IP archive, craftsmanship heritage, and museum/exhibition-driven brand building, but with a much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Ferm Living: Danish design brand founded 2005 producing furniture, textiles, and home accessories with a soft-modern aesthetic. Comparable to Svenskt Tenn in Scandinavian design heritage, multi-category home portfolio, and DTC + wholesale distribution, though positioned more contemporary and accessible.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Svenskt Tenn