About the artist

PIERRE FORSELL | YAYA VINTAGE

Pierre Oskar Paul Forssell (1925–2004) was a Swedish designer, silversmith and master metalworker whose refined approach to form made him one of the most distinctive voices in Scandinavian mid-century design. Born in Stockholm, Forssell belonged to a generation that reshaped Swedish craftsmanship after the war, merging artisanal tradition with the clean, architectural clarity that came to define the region’s design language.

Forssell joined Gense in 1952, where he worked for more than a decade and developed some of his most celebrated creations. Among these were the Piruett folding fork, first presented at the H55 exhibition in Helsingborg in 1955 and officially released in 1959—a piece that perfectly captured his interest in mobility, precision and elegant problem-solving. In 1961 he designed Spectra, a line of cutlery that demonstrated his ability to balance simplicity with sculptural detail, elevating everyday objects through thoughtful geometry and impeccable proportion.

His long collaboration with Skultuna Messingsbruk, from 1955 to 1986, further cemented his legacy. Working with one of Sweden’s oldest brass foundries, Forssell created objects that blended functional clarity with artistic restraint. Among these, the Rosett candle holder stands out as an emblem of his philosophy: a minimal brass column encircled by folded geometric planes, transforming light and shadow into part of the design itself. His pieces for Skultuna exemplify the quiet sophistication of Scandinavian modernism and remain highly sought after by collectors today.

Over the course of his career, Forssell developed a body of work defined by its purity, craftsmanship and architectural sensibility. His designs continue to resonate for their timelessness, precision and the way they celebrate the beauty of metal as both material and medium.