Björn Trägårdh bottle

Rare glass bottle with stopper designed by Björn Trägårdh for Svenskt Tenn in Sweden during the 1930s. The stopper is model A 1608, introduced in 1931, while the glass bottle was manufactured by Orrefors for Svenskt Tenn as model E 21.

The bottle has a flattened rectangular body with softly rounded shoulders and corners, giving the vessel a compact, almost architectural profile. The clear glass is partially frosted, producing a gradual transition from translucent white areas to transparent glass. Its broad front and back surfaces curve gently, while the thick glass base rises slightly toward the center and creates visible optical distortion along the lower edge. A short cylindrical neck is positioned centrally above the body.

The stopper combines three contrasting materials. A natural cork fits into the glass neck and supports a broad circular metal cap. The cap consists of a warm, aged brass perimeter surrounding a silver-grey pewter center. This concentric circular construction contrasts with the predominantly rectangular geometry of the bottle. The brass shows darker spots and tonal variation from age, while the pewter has a matte, lightly marked surface.

Björn Trägårdh (1908–1998) was a Swedish furniture architect, artist, draughtsman and graphic artist. Svenskt Tenn records that he worked as a designer for the company from 1928 to 1936, producing furniture, pewter objects, lighting and other decorative and functional objects. He began working with Svenskt Tenn at the age of twenty and was closely associated with the functionalist direction of Swedish design during the period.

The bottle belongs directly to this early phase of Trägårdh’s work. Bukowskis documents the A 1608 stopper as being in production from 1931 and identifies Orrefors as the manufacturer of the corresponding E 21 bottle for Svenskt Tenn. Svenskt Tenn itself was founded in Stockholm in 1924, initially concentrating on pewter before expanding its production and commissions into a wider range of interior objects during the 1930s.

The bottle measures 16 × 6.5 × 20 cm, corresponding to approximately 6.3 × 2.6 × 7.9 inches. It is in good vintage condition with small signs of use.