Bengt & Lotta Swedish Horse Candle Holder 23 cm black

At a glance

• Swedish Horse candle holder by Bengt & Lotta
• modern interpretation of the traditional Swedish horse motif
• one of the classic animal designs by Bengt Lindberg
• made of black lacquered steel
• for one candle
• height 23 cm, width 23 cm
• weight: 1,050 g
• made in Sweden

Product details

• Design: Swedish Horse
• Designer: Bengt Lindberg & Lotta Glave
• Material: steel, lacquered
• Color: black
• Height: 23 cm
• Width: 23 cm
• Weight: 1,050 g
• Version: candle holder for one candle
• Care: wipe clean if necessary
• Production: Sweden

Swedish Horse – a Swedish classic, newly drawn

More than almost any other motif, the horse is a quintessential part of Swedish folk art. Bengt & Lotta draw on this tradition for the Swedish Horse, but they do not simply copy the classic Dalahäst. Bengt Lindberg translates the idea into his own graphic design language.

The result is a black horse silhouette with decorative cut-out elements. Tradition and modern graphic design meet here directly.

The horse is part of the Bengt & Lotta history

Animal figures stand at the very beginning of Bengt Lindberg's story. His first candle holder was a cow. Sheep, horse, and elk followed – four designs that became classics by Bengt & Lotta.

That is precisely why the Swedish Horse is more than just a candle holder with a horse motif to me. It is one of the designs that helped create Bengt's characteristic animal world.

23 × 23 cm and over one kilogram in weight

With a height of 23 cm and a width of 23 cm, the Swedish Horse has a lovely presence without being overly large. The horse silhouette is immediately recognizable on a sideboard, windowsill, dresser, or table.

I find the weight of 1,050 g particularly worth mentioning for this item. In photos, the cut-out metal figure looks relatively light and delicate. In reality, it is a solid steel candle holder that weighs more than a kilogram.

Decorative with or without a candle

The candle holder is integrated into the shape of the horse and is designed for one candle. When the candle is lit, warm light is added to the black silhouette, highlighting the cut-out details beautifully.

But the Swedish Horse also works as a standalone graphic object even without a candle. This means the candle holder does not have to be put away after use, but can stay in its place all year round.

For fans of Sweden and horses

Of course, the Swedish Horse is a wonderful gift for horse lovers. But I find it even more interesting for people with a connection to Sweden: the traditional Swedish horse motif is immediately recognizable, yet interpreted here in a very unique way.

My assessment

For me, two things come together especially well in the Swedish Horse: a traditional Swedish motif and the unmistakable graphic signature of Bengt Lindberg. It is clearly a Swedish horse, but just as clearly Bengt & Lotta.

And once again, the weight is important information for an online purchase. 1,050 g at 23 × 23 cm conveys much better than a photo that you are not receiving a light decorative item, but a solid steel candle holder.