The Cassettiera Flora is a mahogany chest of drawers designed by architect Josef Frank and produced by Svenskt Tenn, circa 1950. Model number 1050, the piece features three drawers with brass handles and is distinguished by its mahogany casing lined with botanical illustrations drawn by Carl Axel Magnus Lindman.
Frank’s design approach emphasised the integration of fine materials and decorative detail within functional furniture. The botanical imagery reflects the designer’s characteristic attention to ornamental patterning and his interest in natural subjects as a counterpoint to modernist severity. Svenskt Tenn, the Stockholm-based manufacturer, became renowned under Frank’s direction for its synthesis of craftsmanship and contemporary design philosophy.
About Josef Frank
Josef Frank (1885–1967) was an Austrian-born architect who spent much of his career in Sweden. A central figure in twentieth-century design, Frank worked across architecture, furniture, textiles and interior decoration, developing a distinctive approach that married modernist principles with decorative richness and humanism.
Details
- Designer: Josef Frank
- Manufacturer: Svenskt Tenn
- Model: 1050
- Period: circa 1950
- Materials: mahogany, brass
- Botanical illustrations: Carl Axel Magnus Lindman
- Construction: three drawers
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Cassettiera Flora?
The chest was designed by architect Josef Frank and produced by the Swedish furniture manufacturer Svenskt Tenn. The botanical illustrations were drawn by Carl Axel Magnus Lindman.
What materials and finishes does it feature?
The Cassettiera Flora is made of mahogany with brass drawer handles. The interior and exterior surfaces are decorated with botanical illustrations, distinguishing it from purely unadorned modernist furniture.
When was it produced?
The piece dates to approximately 1950 and is identified as model number 1050 in Svenskt Tenn’s production records.