Gunnar Ander bottle stand

Bottle stand designed by Gunnar Ander and produced by Ystad-Metall in Sweden, generally dated to the 1950s. The construction combines golden-toned brass with a black-finished upper surface, producing a restrained contrast characteristic of mid-century Scandinavian metalwork. The underside is stamped with Gunnar Ander’s “GA” monogram, “Ystad-Metall” and “Made in Sweden,” documenting the designer, manufacturer and country of production.

The stand has a triangular base with rounded corners, a shallow raised rim and a brass-bound edge. A vertical brass stem rises from the tray and supports three circular bottle rings arranged in a symmetrical trefoil formation. Bottles rest on the tray and are stabilized by the rings around their bodies. An oval loop at the top provides an integrated carrying handle. The design is based on a clear combination of circles, tapered vertical elements and the softened triangular outline of the base.

Gunnar Ander (1908–1976) was a Swedish designer and architect who worked across glass, wrought iron, brass, nickel silver and wood. In addition to his long association with Ystad-Metall, he played an important role at Lindshammars Glasbruk, where he designed both functional and art glass and developed an extensive range of glass colors. His metalwork commonly combines functional construction with slender linear forms and carefully controlled geometric compositions.

Ystad-Metall was one of Sweden’s notable producers of artist-designed functional and decorative metalware during the twentieth century. Its workshops manufactured objects in materials including brass, bronze, copper, pewter and wrought iron, working with designers such as Gunnar Ander, Ivar Ålenius-Björk and Carl-Einar Borgström. The company’s principal period of design-led production extended from 1919 to 1969.

The stand is an example of Scandinavian modern design, with its function expressed directly through an economical open framework. The thin brass rings reduce the visual mass of the structure, while the solid triangular tray provides stability and collects moisture beneath the bottles. Its black and brass color scheme, rounded geometry and minimal ornament are representative of Swedish domestic accessories from the postwar period.

The bottle stand is in good vintage condition, with small signs of use consistent with its age. These include light surface scratches, minor marks, localized discoloration and areas of natural patination to the brass, particularly on the underside. The black surface also displays limited handling and contact wear. The observed wear does not detract from the object’s form or intended function.

Dimensions: 22 cm wide × 20 cm deep × 26.5 cm high, corresponding to approximately 8.7 × 7.9 × 10.4 inches.