Arthur Pettersson

Arthur Pettersson (1919–2015) was a Swedish designer, craftsman, and metalworker who founded Arthur Petterssons Mekaniska Verkstad in Kolbäck in 1952. Working under the trademark Arthur Pe KOLBÄCK, he became known for producing brass candlesticks and decorative objects distinguished by their restrained forms, precise craftsmanship, and modernist expression.

Biography

Arthur Pettersson was born in 1919 in Lövgård, Sweden. He began working in a mechanical workshop at the age of fourteen before training as a turner at the vocational school for workshop mechanics in Västerås. His technical education provided the foundation for a career combining precision engineering with functional design.

In 1950, Pettersson married Kerstin Karlsson. The following year, he began producing contract work in the basement of their newly built home, and in 1952 he established Arthur Petterssons Mekaniska Verkstad in Kolbäck. The workshop manufactured objects under the Arthur Pe KOLBÄCK name and developed a reputation for high-quality metalwork.

Pettersson's designs were characterized by clean geometric forms and carefully balanced proportions. Working primarily in brass, he created candlesticks and decorative objects that reflected the ideals of Scandinavian modernism, combining technical precision with understated elegance. His work remains appreciated for its timeless simplicity and enduring craftsmanship.

Arthur Pettersson continued his work for many decades and remained closely associated with his workshop in Kolbäck throughout his career. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 96, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be collected as part of Sweden's post-war design heritage.