There is something magical about candlelight and Swedish maker Malin Appelgren dedicates her life to magnifying it. Her hand beaten wall sconces are a perennial favourite at The Shop Floor Project and this year we've added to the collection with an amazing chandelier design, elegant door sconces, candlesticks, tree decorations and napkin rings - all hand beaten and stamped with the maker's mark.

Product Details

Hand-beaten Wall Sconce by Swedish artisan Malin Appelgren.

Size | Royal 21cm (8 1/2") diametre

Interesting note: the Royal size wall sconce was the original design by Malin's grandfather for the King & Queen of Sweden in 1930.

Material | Brass

Price | £290

About the Artisan

“On the wall in front of me there is a picture of my grandfather, Karl-Erik Torssell. I learnt this craft from him. Still; the first thing he said when I asked if I could have a go was - no. No, this is not for girls. It's too heavy, it's too hard. So I nagged him. Please, can't I just hold the hammer? So he let me and taught me everything he knew including how to make the Royal Sconce. In the 1930‘s King Gustav V bought the first two my grandfather made as a wedding gift to Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden and Sibylla to hang in their country retreat in Storlien.

You can hear it when I work. Iron driving into metal. There is a rhythm as I forge the rim of a plate. It goes 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2. Hammer's easy in my hand. Floor vibrating. I need everything to be in place before I start. Hammer, yes. Ear muffs. Hallmark stamps. The stock and the material. Brass is hard and obstinate, pewter's responsive and yielding. Brass needs to be polished, while pewter just grows prettier with time.

When I sit down at the stock with a piece of metal in front of me, time passes slowly. The now solely consists of focused attention. From here time stretches back, so I can find my place in this tradition. And ahead, towards forms yet not conceived. Craftsmanship is all about this. About time.” 

Text by Malin Appelgren