Page 92 - Homes & Antiques (February 2020)

STRING THEORY

Nils Strinning was in his late twenties when his wife,
Kajsa, asked him to dry the dishes. ‘He thought towels
were unclean,’ says String Furniture CEO, Peter
Erlandsson, ‘so he made a metal dish rack dipped in
rust-preventing plastic.’ Three years later, Bonnier’s
competition launched and Nils remembered his dish
rack. Turned vertically, its steel wires became ladders,
perfect for holding shelving or cabinets, ripe for near-
in!nite con!guration.
Manufacture began in 1950. Global success
germinated in 1954, with gold at the Triennale di
Milano, then "owered a year later at Sweden’s H55
exhibition – which, says Peter, was the event that
made the rest of the world sit up and take notice of
Scandinavian design. A global rise in sales followed.
Production ceased in 1974, before Peter led a 2005
resurrection. From £80,000 in the !rst year, turnover
today is £26m. ‘We’ve evolved cautiously, not wanting to
destroy the iconic system. Functional, strong design,
that’s the key.’

String shelving is considered a design classic
thanks to its versatility and understated aesthetic.
In original examples, honeycomb paper (paper made
into honeycomb shapes) was used inside to keep the
shelves light but exceptionally strong. The String shelving
pictured is available in 12 colourways and costs £126.