Coffee table model U 601

Designed by Josef Frank Josef Frank för Svenskt Tenn

Sweden, 1960s

This Josef Frank coffee table for Svenskt Tenn unites mid century Scandinavian design with a rare historic motif. The generous circular top holds a printed reproduction of the celebrated Fra Mauro world map from circa 1450, the original of which is preserved in the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Set behind a recessed glass surface and framed by a discreet brass rim, the map becomes both a functional tabletop and a compelling cartographic artwork, rich with minute detail and aged tonalities of parchment, grey and soft green.

The removable top rests on a separate walnut base, whose square stretcher frame and straight legs provide a calm architectural counterpoint to the intricate imagery above. This construction reflects Josef Frank’s enduring interest in flexible interiors, where elements could be moved or recombined as needed. A sought after Svenskt Tenn world map table from the 1960s–70s, it is an exceptional example of Frank’s ability to weave history, geography and modern living into a single, quietly spectacular piece.