Har du läst den kritiska artikeln i Expressen om prins Carl Philip som fotograf och desiger? Jag har personligen inget att invända mot hans silverbestick för Mema Gab. Men hans uppmärksammade eldskärm föreställande det gamla slottet Tre Kronor??? Så här beskrevs eldskärmen vid lanseringen förra våren: "Slottet brinner är den första produkten prins Carl Philip formger som är inspirerad av händelser ur den svenska historien". Personligen tycker jag det hade varit på sin plats att berätta att eldskärmen, som säljs av Svenskt Tenn, var inspirerad av den italienska designern Matteo Mucchis eldskärm föreställande Roms och Londons siluett. Hoppsan! Jag kan inte låta bli att jämföra Carl Philips design med designikonen Sigvard Bernadotts.
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden is sometimes called The Design Prince. Just like his great uncle Sigvard Bernadotte befor him.
But if you ask me, they are not playing in the same league. While Sigvard Bernadotte was a progressive and experimental designer, Carl Philip has yet to prove himself. The silverware above is indeed very Scandinavian Modern in it's design, but if it wasn't for the royal connections, I'm afraid it would be much talked about.
Not to mention the prince's firescreen of the 17C Royal Castle burning, which is a rip off of the italian designer Matteo Mucchi's firescreen of Rome/London burning. What was the prince thinking of?
There is only one swedish Design Prince in my opinion - and that is Carl Philip's great uncle Sigvard Bernadotte. Just look at his beautiful, creative designs in exclusive silver (1938) for George Jensen, below.
And the everyday items below, designed by Sigvard Bernadotte for everyday living. Progressive design in new materials (for it's time, the 1950s and on). Most Swedish families have items like these in their kitchens. I certainly do.
The timeless pattern design Virrvarr (1957), was originally designed for kitchen countertops and cutting boards, and is once again in production. A very trendy pattern, now also used on book covers etc.
Sigvard Bernadotte is one of the few people born into the Swedish royal family who was able to carve out a name for himself and to have a direct, lasting effect on the daily lives of ordinary people.
Below an old pic of the young prince Sigvard Bernadotte (far left) and his family. Plus some of the less royal everyday items he designed in plastic, often described as “functionality with a human element”.
A sampling of kitchenwares designed by Sigvard Bernadotte. During his career as a graphic and industrial designer, he amassed an impressive and influential body of work, the products of which – calculators, can openers, flatware, radios – have found their way into literally millions of homes and offices around the world. Under the shadow of his fight to regain his royal title (he lost when marrying a commoner), Bernadotte blazed his own way, building a reputation and legacy as one of Sweden’s most famous and revered designers. More on Sigvard Bernadotte and his work here.
Perhaps it is too much to ask of young prince Carl Philip, to fill the shoes of a design icon such as his great uncle?
