A large, brutalist torch-cut bronze sconce by Tom Ahlström and Hans Ehrich for A&E Design, consisting of several pierced hollow metal tubes welded together on a metal frame in a brutalist fashion, and housing two integrated electrical light sources diffused with amber Murano glass shades.

TOM ALHSTRöM, born on May 30, 1943, is a renowned Swedish industrial designer and the visionary co-founder of A&E Design. Alongside his identical twin brother, Stig, he was born in the vibrant city of Helsinki, Finland, to a Swedish-speaking Finnish mother and a Swedish father who thrived in the steel industry.

After growing up in Västerås, Sweden, Tom ventured to the dynamic capital of Stockholm in 1964, where his creative journey would truly begin. Ahlström honed his craft at the prestigious University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, focusing on crafts and silversmithing. It was during this formative time that he met the talented Hans Ehrich, and in 1968, they joined forces to establish A&E Design (Ahlström and Erich). Together, they transformed the design landscape with innovations like the 1230 Diskborsten, an iconic dishwashing brush for Jordan A/S that sold millions of units worldwide. They also revolutionized the shopping experience with the ticket dispenser and numeric split-flap display for the AB Turn-O-Matic M80 Könummersystem. This queue number system has become a staple in supermarkets everywhere.

The impact of Ahlström and Ehrich’s designs has been recognized in some of the world’s most esteemed museums, including the Möbeldesignmuseum, Nasjonalmuseet, Röhsska Museum, Nationalmuseum, Vitra Design Museum, and Pinakothek der Moderne in Germany, as well as the illustrious Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2018, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm hosted a retrospective exhibition honoring their remarkable contributions to design. This captivating showcase featured handcrafted models, prototypes, sketches, drawings, and finished products from the A&E Design archive, which the duo generously donated to the museum in 2015. It was an extraordinary opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the genius of Ahlström and Ehrich, celebrating their enduring legacy in the world of design.

HANS EHRICH, born on September 25, 1942, is a renowned Swedish industrial designer who made a significant impact in the design world by co-founding A&E Design with his partner, Tom Ahlström, in 1968. Even today, he continues to manage the company, a testament to his dedication and passion for design. From 1982 to 2002, he also served as the CEO of Interdesign, another design firm based in Stockholm. Ehrich is celebrated internationally as one of Sweden's top product designers and is often affectionately referred to as the “Grand Seigneur” of Swedish industrial design. He currently divides his time between Stockholm and Berlin.

Ehrich's story begins in Kulosaari (now part of Helsinki), where he was born to a Swedish mother, Liten-Karin Sundberg, and a German artist father, Otto Ehrich, who moved to Finland in 1936. During the Finnish Continuation War in 1944, Hans and his family found safety in Sweden.

Hans's education was quite the adventure as he grew up and learned in various countries, including Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy. He completed his German higher school examination (Abitur) at the Scuola Germanica di Roma in Italy. Even as a teenager, he was already showcasing his artistic talent, creating innovative design sketches for car interiors at the age of 16.

Between 1962 and 1967, Hans studied metal crafts, with a focus on silver and goldsmithing at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack) in Stockholm. He mixed his studies with internships at Italian car manufacturers in Milan and Turin, where he had the chance to meet industry legends like Giorgetto Giugiaro.

Hans's love for cars shone through in his projects, such as the “Two Door Sports Coupé” and the “2.5 Litre Gran Turismo Convertible.” His standout project at Konstfack in 1967 was the “Optima,” a three-seat electric town car. It was a mock-up, but it generated a lot of buzz and even won first prize at the Ford design competition held in Munich!

In 1968, Tom Ahlström, who was to become Hans's future business partner, designed a complete furniture collection in plastic for his graduation project, paving the way for them to start A&E Design together.

A&E Design quickly gained recognition for its innovative and user-friendly products. Their first breakthrough came when they designed a paintbrush with an ergonomic grip, which proved to be a huge success. From there, they went on to create an array of innovative products using various plastics and production techniques.

Their impressive lineup includes the popular “1230” dishwashing brush, the “Fresh” bath board, the “Clean” shower and toilet chair, and the “Stockholm II” folding stool. The folding stool is especially loved – it's found in over 1600 museums around the world, providing comfort to visitors!

One of Hans's noteworthy creations is the “Turn-O-Matic M80,” a queue ticket dispenser designed in 1974. This clever design even made it onto a stamp in 2005, celebrating Swedish design during “The Year of Design.”

Many of A&E Design's fantastic products are part of the permanent collections at prestigious institutions, including the Nationalmuseum, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. Over the years, they've picked up numerous awards, including 14 “Excellent Swedish Design” accolades and five “Red Dot” awards. Hans has proudly served as a jury member for the “red dot design award” since 2002.

In 2022, Hans took a big step to give back to the design community by founding the "Foundation for Industrial Design." This initiative aims to support a young, talented industrial design student with a scholarship and diploma. Four esteemed professors from top design universities each recommend a candidate, and the jury selects the winner of “The Hans Ehrich Design Award for Excellent Young Industrial Design.” The award ceremony was held in Vitemölla, and in 2022, the prize amount was SEK 85,000, helping to inspire the next generation of designers.

Details

DIMENSIONS
10ʺW × 7.25ʺD × 24ʺL

STYLES
Brutalist
Swedish
Mid-Century Modern

LAMP SHADE
Included

BRAND
A&E Design

DESIGNER
Ahlström and Ehrich

PERIOD
1960s

PLACE OF ORIGIN
Sweden

ITEM TYPE
Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned

MATERIALS
Bronze
Murano Glass

CONDITION
Very Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, No Imperfections

COLOR
Bronze

CONDITION NOTES
Excellent Vintage Condition