difficult to check for stickers when you buy on the net 😉 I decided to buy it anyways because I like the unusual look, a nice contrast with what I already have and it wasn't too expensive. The seller is a French "brocanteur" who lives in Sweden. He has a shop there and comes to France with stuff he buys in Sweden. So that is why he claims that the cabinet is made in Sweden but designed by Iversen. I'll make sure to look for various stamps or stickers on the item when I get it delivered. I've searched over and over on the net for anything resembling the cabinet but only found a small matching cabinet, on the website of the seller in Sweden... It was probably acquired at the same time...
By accident, I stumbled upon the ad for your bed side table on "leboncoin". Giving what you said about the seller and his other ads, I see little doubt that the piece is indeed from Sweden.
I wouldn't expect any notable designer to be behind this piece but for the price you paid that's alright...
Leboncoin is where I found it, of course. It's a good place for good finds but buyer beware... I liked the look no matter what. I don't think that it's mahogany/teak but I'm curious to find out what the second wood is or if it's just a darker coloured oil that was used. I'm getting it combined with a small hans agne jakobsson lamp (that I'm pretty sure of the design 😉 ). I think I got a good deal but it's not all about names... it's also about creating an interior that pleases me...
Found the answer on Lauritz.com and bukowskis.com : it's Arne Wahl-Iversen for IKEA... And yet, the craftsmanship is much better than what it is now a day... So, I still bought it 😉 And there is no mahogany, only two different shades of teak. Here are two other products from the same collection :
Good job with the research! You were right not to trust 😉
Leif, actually I was surprised to see how many danish designers worked for swedish makers as well. I have here an issue of Mobilia (#68, March 1961) about Stockholm furniture fair and I was very surprised. Borge Mogensen for AB Karl Andersson & Söner, Acton Bjorn for Aktuell Form, Edv. kindt Larsen for Olof Persons and AB Seffle Mobelfabrik, Hans Olsen for Ary Stalmobler, , Poul Volther for Gemla, etc.
Where did you find proof of IKEA manufacture? I am curious.
And yes there were a number of danish designers who worked for Swedish companies. And there are a few more that could be added to the list. If you step back from it though, you realize that the vast majority of the time Danes worked for Danes, and Swedes for Swedes, and Norwegians for Norwegians. So, randomly saying that a Dane designed for a Swedish firm is often something to make one suspicious.
You should try to find out if AWI did work for IKEA...
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