Anna Petrus

Hildur Hansson (1912-1999)

Hildur Hansson was born in Southern Sweden. Eventually she was married to Erik Hansson (b. 1906) but unfortunately she was widowed when Erik died in the Finnish Winter war 1930-1940. Hildur was left with their only child, Ingemar. Hildur Hansson had early on become good friends with Estrid Ericson (1894-1981), founder of Svenskt Tenn, and hence started to collect objects from Svenskt Tenn. An interest that continued over the years and their home was filled with some very special pieces of pewter as well as furniture from Svenskt Tenn. When Ingemar Hansson grew up he continued to cultivate the interest for items from Svenskt Tenn he had inherited from his mother. The collection comprises lots nr 329-377

Anna Petrus was a sculptor and designer at the beginning of the 20th Century. After her death, Anna Petrus' work was almost forgotten, but in recent years, it been rediscovered. And now, her sculptures are sought after-objects.

She was born Anna Petersson, the daughter of a medical professor and a countess, and took the surname when she studied at the Academy of Arts. She inherited a small fortune at age 11 when her mother died, which enabled her to educate in London and travel to Italy and France. Anna Petrus had her international breakthrough at the Paris World Fair in 1925, where she displayed pewter and cast iron objects in the Swedish Grace style. At the time, pewter was a material that was considered unfashionable, but its popularity increased with designers like Anna Petrus.

In 1924, she began collaborating with the newly established Firma Svenskt Tenn. The lion became a recurring motif in Anna Petrus' production as sculptures and decorations.