

I've been rather careful in my production, says Anki Gneib. "I want it to feel right - ideas need time to mature."
But
despite her self-critical approach, Anki Gneib has produced a great deal since
she graduated from University College of Arts Crafts and Design in 1993. She
won the Excellent Swedish Design award, and received Sköna Hem magazines’
Furniture of the year award in 1997 for the ingeniously slanted shelf Squeeze.
That wasn't the only competition she won in 1997. Svensk Form and Woodex put
out a call for modern furniture inspired by the folk culture of the province
of Halsingland.
"I
travelled around looking at old houses and museums she says" and discovered
that I loved the textured look of their cabinet doors and drawers".
Anki was already working on sketches for a dresser and when she added a banded
profile to the drawers her contest entry was complete.
The
chest and cabinet series Hambo was first produced in co-operation with the
arrangers of the contest. It is now manufactured by Fogia, which has taken
over Hambo and the bedframes that go with it, Sambo, Delsbo and Enbo.
At a distance the dresser looks like a little cabinet. Only when you come
close is it obvious that the horizontal lines are not part of a door, but
drawers that can be pulled out .
"I
love to do things that surprise you. That aren't always exactly what they
seem to be, she says"
Anki also decorates public spaces. Context comes first in her decorating philosophy.
"Furniture design gives you more freedom, more room to play with particular
ideas. Once I've designed a piece of furniture, it's up to someone else to
decide how it will fit in. And I love seeing how other people think my furniture
should fit in. "