Yngve Ekström mirror

The rare Konkret mirror was designed by Swedish designer Yngve Ekström and produced by Eden Spegel in Sweden during the 1950s. The model is documented in period examples in several dimensions and finishes.

The rectangular mirror is surrounded by a broad, black-lacquered wooden frame constructed as an openwork geometric composition. Irregular triangular, trapezoidal and elongated polygonal openings are arranged around all four sides, creating an asymmetric network of intersecting diagonals. The resulting alternation between solid material and negative space gives the otherwise conventional rectangular format a distinctly architectural character. A narrow gold-colored inner moulding separates the dark outer structure from the mirrored glass, introducing a precise linear accent and emphasizing the central reflective surface. The combination of matte black, warm gold and clear mirrored glass produces a deliberately limited and graphic palette.

The Konkret model belongs to the vocabulary of Scandinavian Modern design of the 1950s, but differs from the restrained organic forms commonly associated with Swedish furniture of the period. Here the emphasis is instead on geometric abstraction, irregular rhythm and the visual relationship between positive and negative space. The frame functions simultaneously as a structural surround and as an independent graphic composition. Comparable Konkret mirrors are documented as Swedish 1950s production and attributed to Ekström, including examples produced by Eden Spegel.

Yngve Ekström (1913–1988) was one of the significant figures in postwar Swedish design and Scandinavian Modernism. Born in Hagafors in Småland, he entered the woodworking industry at the age of thirteen and developed an extensive practical understanding of carpentry, materials and construction. He later co-founded ESE-möbler, the company that became Swedese, and achieved wider recognition during the 1950s. His best-known design is the Lamino chair of 1956, although his work encompassed a considerably broader range of furniture and interior objects. His designs are represented in international museum collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The mirror remains in good vintage condition, with signs of use and age consistent with an object dating from the 1950s. The black lacquer retains a generally even appearance, while the gold-colored inner frame shows localized rubbing, darkening and small areas of surface wear visible in the detailed photographs. These traces form part of the object’s age-related patina rather than substantially altering its overall geometric composition.

Dimensions: width 56 cm (22.05 in), depth 3 cm (1.18 in), height 83.5 cm (32.87 in).