There’s one thing that comes naturally when you come across Estrid Ericson’s work: becoming obsessed with it. From the subtlety of the curves in her creations to the minute attention towards keeping simplicity as the ultimate indication of everyday luxury.
Estrid Ericson has long had her own chapter in the history of Swedish design. But as the obsession (there’s that word again) with Scandinavian aesthetic still holds a strong grip on current trends, it’s about time for non-Swedes to discover Estrid’s creations.
In a nutshell, Estrid Ericson took Swedish design from drab functionalism to a homely yet sophisticated bearer of colors, patterns and textures. In 1924, at the age of 30, she opened a store to sell pewter products that she had created herself. Ten years later, she partnered with Austrian architect Josef Frank to transform the store into one of Sweden’s most iconic brands, Svenskt Tenn.
Estrid’s creation are universal and elegant in every season, but this acorn vase might be of particular interest for plant lovers as we navigate autumn.
It was way back in the 1930s that Estrid came up with the idea for the acorn vase, while she was spending the summer at her home, Tolvekarna (The Twelve Oaks). It was the shape of acorns that inspired that of the sprouting vase.
Here’s how to sprout acorns if you want to give this vase, or any other vase, a try.
The prime acorn-picking season is October. Once you’ve picked acorns that look healthy, test them by placing them in a bowl of water. If they float, it’s highly likely that they won’t sprout.
Put the good ones in a damp bag in the fridge – add a wet paper towel if necessary. Check it every week to make sure the bag hasn’t dried out or worse, become moldy. In about 4-6 weeks, you should see some tiny roots coming out of the acorns. Now’s the time to put them in water.
Fill the acorn vase with water and place the sprouting acorn on the rim. Give it another 3-6 weeks before you see green growth. Set the vase near a source of light. Admire the fine root structure and smooth leaves to your heart’s content.
Well, it’s October now. You know what to do.
Photos via Svenskt Tenn
For another variation of the sprouting vase, have a look at the Plantation porcelain series.
