Description

1948 sits right at the start of the clean, structural Scandinavian modernism that would come to define the region’s design reputation over the following two decades. This pendant is a reminder that the shift wasn’t instant: figurative, folkloric subjects, a maiden set within an oak tree, still had a real place in Swedish silverwork even as the wider design language was moving toward abstraction.

The maiden-in-a-tree motif draws on genuine Scandinavian folklore, tree spirits and forest maidens recur throughout Nordic legend.

Why the date matters here specifically. Made in 1948, right as Scandinavian modernism was beginning its ascent, it represents a genuine crossroads moment.

What to look for. The figurative detailing should be crisp and legible rather than worn to a blur, and the 1948 date mark should be clearly struck. Both are intact on this piece.

This piece is part of a small, genuinely personal collection of antique jewellery, gathered over years rather than acquired for resale.