Scandinavian Brutalist Pine Tea-Light Holders — Geometric Stepped Totem Pair, Sweden 1960s-70s, Soli

Hand-carved from solid Swedish pine, these sculptural blocks reveal staggered negative spaces that cradle a single standard tea-light each. The taller piece stands 25 cm, the shorter approximately 19 cm; both wear a mellow honey patina that lets end-grain and knots speak. When lit, candle-glow pools inside the recessed ‘stair’, casting tiered shadows that accentuate the Brutalist geometry.

The form echoes Sweden’s late-1960s träslöjd revival, when workshops married folk carpentry with modernist abstraction. Pine—humble, aromatic, endlessly renewable—became canvas for architects and artisans seeking warmth in spare interiors. Cluster the pair on a low table for architectural ambience, or split them across a bookshelf to punctuate evening rituals with soft Nordic light.

Condition

Very Good — smooth surfaces and warm, even finish⁠; one natural knot mark and a faint surface bruise near base, no cracks.

Dimensions

Tall holder: H 25 cm × W 6 cm × D 6 cm

Short holder: H ≈ 19 cm × W 6 cm × D 6 cm