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It looks like a handsome wooden chest. Then you open it.
And suddenly it stretches out in both directions into a wonderfully engineered system of trays, compartments and hidden storage.
Made by A/S Strømmen Bruk of Hamar, Norway, this mid-century cantilever box is one of those objects that makes you wonder why storage became so boring.
It was originally marketed as a sewing box. I never used it for sewing. I don’t know how.
For years I kept my collection of raw and polished opals in it. Later, when my mother needed a little encouragement to return to making art, I emptied it out, filled every compartment with interesting art supplies, and gave it to her to explore.
That is what I love about this piece: it invites you to fill it with something you care about.
Jewelry. Art supplies. Watches. Minerals. Small tools. Collectibles. Whatever deserves better than a plastic bin.
Closed, it is warm and sculptural. Open, it becomes an unexpectedly generous piece of Scandinavian engineering, with a bentwood handle, articulated arms and tiered trays.
It retains its original A/S Strømmen Bruk Hamar — Product of Norway label.
This is a vintage object that has been enjoyed and cared for, and it has earned a few small, expected marks of age. I have deliberately not refinished it. It doesn’t need it. The patina belongs there.
Approximate era: 1950s–60sMaker: A/S Strømmen BrukOrigin: Hamar, NorwayStyle: Scandinavian / Mid-Century ModernMaterial: Wood
If you are looking for a sewing box, this is a very good one. If you are looking for a beautifully designed place to keep the small things you actually care about, you found a great one.
