Svenskt Tenn Pewter Lion in the Style of Anna Petrus - c.1970

An exceptionally rare vintage pewter lion produced by the celebrated Swedish design house Firma Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm, based on a design attributed to artist and sculptor Anna Petrus (1886–1949).

Originally conceived during the Swedish Grace movement, Petrus's stylized animal forms occupy a distinctive place between Scandinavian classicism and Art Deco. This sculptural lion is rendered with a powerful, almost architectural stance: four squared feet anchor the figure to a rectangular pewter base, while its raised head and open mouth give the otherwise compact form a sense of monumentality. Incised geometric decoration articulates the mane and facial features, contrasting with the smooth, rounded modeling of the body.

Petrus was an important early collaborator with Svenskt Tenn founder Estrid Ericson, and her lion motif became one of the most recognizable expressions of the company's early decorative vocabulary. This later example dates to 1974 and demonstrates the longevity of the design decades after Petrus's death in 1949.

The piece bears three identifying marks, including the Firma Svenskt Tenn maker's mark, Stockholm's St. Erik mark, and the Z9 date code corresponding to 1974. As is found on some later productions of historic Svenskt Tenn designs, the individual designer's signature is not present.

Substantial enough to function as a paperweight or bookend, the lion is equally compelling simply displayed as a small sculpture. A rare and highly collectible example of Swedish design connecting the decorative language of the 1920s Swedish Grace movement with Svenskt Tenn's enduring 20th-century production.