Modern Art & Design presents Bröderna Malmströms Metallvarufabrik

In 1914, Johan Jakobsson, a goldsmith from Royal Purveyor jeweller Emil O Möller in Malmö, was hired. He swiftly ascended to the role of supervisor. His enduring impact on the company’s high quality standards is undeniable.

After a period of decline due to the global interwar crisis in the 1920s, M.Sc. K.G. Lindesvärd, previously a sales executive at Chr. Bergh & Co., took over the company in 1926. Goldsmith Jakobsson remained, and a period of renewal commenced, with K.G. as head of design and engineering and Jakobsson as head of manufacturing. However, the well-established name Bröderna Malmströms was wisely retained, as was the brothers’ renowned craftsmanship legacy.

Beginning in 1930, they distinguished themselves with hyper-modern, chrome-plated, functionalist luminaires. In 1933, Bröderna Malmströms issued Scandinavia’s largest design catalogue for public and industrial lighting, showcasing their modern product range.

One of the prestigious assignments from this period was the lighting fixtures for the Helsingborg Concert Hall designed by architect Sven Markelius. These luminaires are still in use today. Another notable commission was the special luminaires made entirely of nickel silver for the Swedish State Railways’ royal train car.

In 1939, Bröderna Malmströms received another prestigious assignment from Markelius: the New York World’s Fair. Here, a creative collaboration began with the young star architect Carl-Axel Acking, who was commissioned to design the interior of the Swedish pavilion’s international reception room for chief commissioner Folke Bernadotte and his business staff. This collaboration resulted in groundbreaking lighting product features, such as perforated brass reflectors, leather-clad pillars, and wicker-braided glass. The New York luminaires once again electrified Bröderna Malmströms’ presence on the world stage.

The collaboration with Carl-Axel Acking spanned many years, producing around forty products and several interiors. Other creative collaborations included those with Gunnar Asplund (Statens Bakteriologiska Laboratorium), Erik Lallerstedt (several Swedish post offices), Stig Blomberg (Kungl Veterinärhögskolan), Elias Svedberg (HSB’s head office), and Alvar Aalto (Edgar J. Kaufmann Conference Center, New York).

To the Catalogue