When Ehlén wanted to make candlesticks out of stone, she simply visited a local stonemasonry and acquired some surplus dolerite pieces. She developed three different candlesticks using the material, and they were sold as a set.
The KRÄSEN candlesticks from 1987 united an ancient material with a modern style. Or as an internal protocol from 1987 put it: “Who said our modern style is feeble and that everything has already been done? Come on, speak up! Or look at our new KRÄSEN candlesticks! With a foot of natural stone, a post of iron wire and a candle cup of brass, our new candlesticks build bridges between material, design and function.”
KRÄSEN was originally part of the IKEA Tomorrow programme, a ‘trend department’ with different, modern design.
KRÄSEN did not appear in the catalogue until 1997. This was after a traditional chandelier by Ehlén had already appeared, which says something about how IKEA at the time prioritised traditional products above a more modern style.
