typewriteraroony

Sigvard Bernadotte was not just a designer — he was also Swedish royalty, the second son of King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden, but he distinguished himself through his own achievements as a graphic and industrial designer.

Facit-Odense pinwheel adding machine

His design career blossomed in the 1930s, when he became known for clean, functional designs rooted in Scandinavian modernism. He was one of the chief designers of silver for the Georg Jensen Company. Household wares and luxury items by Bernadotte are in the decorative arts collections of museums worldwide.

The FACIT TP1 is a classic example of Bernadotte’s uncluttered and modern style. Vertical anterior lines are simultaneously flat and curvaceous. They transition between assertive, unbroken planes which suggest, in miniature, a monumentality reminiscent of Brutalist architecture.

Facit (later Facit-Odhner) a company known for its precision engineering, hired Bernadotte to make office machines more appealing and ergonomic. The TP1 is now celebrated as a mid-century-modern design icon.