Anna Petrus (1886–1949) was a Swedish designer and sculptor whose distinctive works became icons of Scandinavian design. She is best known for her collaborations with the ironworks firm Svenskt Tenn, where her signature lion motifs adorned pewter and wrought iron designs. Her candlesticks and door knockers, rich in decorative detail and blending Art Deco with Swedish folk art, exemplify her artistic flair. Petrus’ innovative designs showcase a playful yet refined aesthetic, securing her place in design history.

Svenskt Tenn

Pewter, decoration in relief.
Impressed with manufacturer's marks and date stamp to the base (A8 = 1927).

Various

Pewter Bowl

History:
Estrid Ericson is responsible for the shape of the bowl, while the hooks and ornaments are designed by Anna Petrus.

Näfveqvarns Bruk

Cast iron, partly painted black, relief decoration throughout, granite top. 
Two reliefs stamped 'SWEDEN' and 'A. Petrus'. 

Provenance:
Disponentvillan, Näfveqvarns Bruk, Nyköping, then inherited.

Exhibitions:
'Swedish Contemporary Decorative Arts', Metropolitan Museum of Arts, New York, 1927, three displayed.
Stockholm Exhibition, 1930, one of three displayed.

Literature:
Gregor Paulsson (ed), Svenska Slöjdföreningens Tidskrift, Stockholm 1927, booklet 2, see pages 25-37.
Christian Björk, "Näfveqvarns Bruk - Artists and architects for industry", Orosdi-Back 2013, the tables depicted from the exhibition in New York 1927, page 107, and details and sketches pages 104-105, see also the model from the Stockholm exhibition 1930, page 163.
Carl Bergsten's archive, ArkDes, Stockholm, see Carl Bergsten's sketch with the three tables before the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York in 1927.

Three tables were made for the Swedish arts and crafts exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum in New York in 1927. After the successes in Paris in 1925, Sweden as the only nation was invited for the first time to participate in an art industry exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York. The exhibition opened January 17 in the presence of H.K.H. Prince Wilhelm and Sweden's envoy to Washington, the envoy Wolman Boström. The exhibition was a success and in SSF's Tidskrift (Form) 1927 Gregor Paulsson writes that "According to information, no exhibition has had such publicity in the daily New York newspapers. The number of visitors was very large. The highest number of visitors in one day was before my return trip 6000 people, which is a record at the Metropolitan Museum. " Invitations later came to move the exhibit to other cities in the United States, including Detroit and Chicago. After the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, where one of the tables was exhibited, the tables have not been seen in any major context. This table was disassembled and the parts were scattered.

Furniture

Table

Pewter with brass detail, glass shade. 5 electric sockets and 6 candle holders.
Impressed with producer's marks.

Anna Petrus is one of the most exceptional Swedish artists of the early 20th century. Active in a group of avant-garde artists, Anna Petrus created new forms of artistic expression. Her work composes an imaginative mix of drama, dance, music, visual arts as well as furniture design. The artist's favored materials were stone, wood, marble, iron and pewter. In her designs she often re-interpreted Greek myths and approached them from an innovative perspective.

Lighting

Ceiling Lamp

Pewter.
Moulded signature 'A. Petrus' to rear left legs, with producer's marks and date stamp impressed to underside of bases.

Pair of Bookends

Cast iron. 
The decorative element was originally designed for columns in the Swedish pavilion at the Paris World fair 1925, in 1927 they were designed as urns.
Literature; Marie Rehnberg, Anna Petrus Skulptör och industrikonstnär, 2009, jämför s. 133.
Christian Björk, Näfveqvarns bruk - Konstnärer och arkitekter till industrin, 2013, modellen avbildad s. 92-93.

Urns No.1

Svenskt Tenn Ceiling Lamp

Herman Bergman

Pewter and brass. Signed Anna Petrus, Herman Bergman. The model exhibited at the World's Fair in Paris in 1925.  
Literature; M. Rehnberg, Anna Petrus Skulptör och industrikonstnär, 2009, p.83., - H. Hedqvist, R. Jacobson, J. Gerber, Modernt Svenskt Tenn, 2004, p.21, Exposition: Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes de Paris, 1925

Set of Four Candlesticks

Pewter, brass details. Svenst Tenn stamps. Both for electricity and candles.

Pair of Svenskt Tenn Lamps

Pewter, brass details, frosted glass shade.

Lidded Inkwell

Pewter. 
Signed 'Anna Petrus' and impressed with manufacturer's marks and date stamp to base.

'Janus Head' Vase

Pewter.
Signed 'Anna Petrus' and impressed with manufacturer's marks and indistinct date stamp to base.
Designed 1927.

Karl Wojtech

Silver plated brass. Cane wrapped handle and feet.
Impressed with maker's marks to underside.

Teapot

Pewter, brass details. Stamped with Angel-mark Svenskt Tenn C8

Pewter Jar With Lid

Cast iron with decoration of theatrical figures. This model was shown in the Swedish Pavilion at the Paris World Fair 1925. 
Literature; 
Marie Rehnberg, 'Anna Petrus Skulptör och Industrikonstnär', Signum 2009, see model illustrated on page 132.

Set of Three Jardinieres

Pewter. Manufactures stamps, date stamp A8 = 1927. Signed A.Petrus.

Anna Petrus

1886 - 1949