Since traditional Scandinavian bentwood trays and boxes are so difficult to find these days, SwedArt™ is extremely proud to be able to offer a few for sale. Not many wood artisans master the time consuming technique of boiling and bending thin wood any longer. Unique versions of bentwood trays and boxes for storage have been used for thousands of years in different cultures. Some have been found in Scandinavian Viking ships from 840 A.D.

Arctic sallow wood (or birch) is first split and boiled, sometimes steamed, and then bent (swept) around a bottom made of alder wood, before finally being laced together with strong birch roots using chain stitching. Root lacing was the technique used in most cultures before glue was invented. Six small wood plugs secure the alder wood bottom in place.

Birch roots are usually dug up and collected in late fall because they have a lighter color then. They are cleaned from bark and allowed to dry in small rolls. Before being used, they are boiled in a pot until soft and sink to the bottom. They are finally split by hand so one side becomes flat.

Impress your friends by placing a conversation topic on the table next time they come over for coffee. Serve cookies in a beautiful and handmade bentwood tray or serve lumps of sugar in a bentwood box from Sweden and tell the interesting story of how it was made by using ancient techniques!

These rare heirloom items have been signed on the bottom by the artisan.

We carry two bentwood trays, 10” x 7” x 2” and 12” x 8” x 2”. We also carry a bentwood box for sugar cubes that measures 5” x 3” x 4” and it includes a bentwood tong. and a salt/sugar box with a small wooden spoon.
The trays are $89 and $109 respectively. The sugar box with tong is $89 and the salt/sugar box with spoon is $79.

Domestic shipping is $5 per item with USPS Priority Mail.

To purchase a bentwood tray or box, email info@swedart.com with your request.