Dalarna Dala Horse Round Sewing Tin 1960s to 1970s Swedish Folk Art

This Dalarna Dala Horse round tin is a 1960s to 1970s style metal storage tin featuring a bright red Swedish Dala Horse against a deep blue lid marked DALARNA.

The round tin has clearly been put to work as a sewing container, and the assortment of thread, elastic, fasteners, safety pins, buttons, and other small sewing notions found inside will stay with it.

The bold blue, red, yellow, green, and white folk art design gives it plenty of Scandinavian character while the useful five inch size still makes it an easy piece to keep on a sewing table, shelf, or craft room counter.

Details

• Item: Dalarna Dala Horse round tin with sewing contents
• Item Type: Round storage and sewing tin
• Era: Approximately 1960s to 1970s based on provided research notes
• Materials: Metal tin with printed decoration
• Color: Cobalt blue lid, red body, multicolor Dala Horse design, dark metal rim
• Maker and Mark: No visible maker's mark in the photos. Lid is printed DALARNA. Country of manufacture is not confirmed from photos.
• Pattern or Model: Dalarna Dala Horse design. Model name not confirmed from photos.
• Style: Swedish folk art and Scandinavian souvenir style
• Dimensions: 5 inches round by 2 inches high
• Special Features: Sewing notions found inside are included as shown. Contents have not been inventoried as a complete sewing set.

Condition Grade: Good

Positives

• Graded Good: The tin is complete and usable with noticeable surface wear from age and handling.
• The lid retains strong blue color and a crisp, easily recognizable red Dala Horse design with DALARNA printed above it.
• The lid fits the round base, and the container remains useful for sewing notions, buttons, small craft supplies, or display.
• The original household sewing contents found inside have been left with the tin rather than separated from it.

Issues / Wear

• The metal rim shows finish loss, darkening, spotting, and scattered surface wear around the circumference.
• The red body has scratches, dark speckling, small marks, and areas of surface wear visible in the photos.
• The blue lid has scattered light scratches and small surface marks from handling and storage.
• The underside of the lid shows numerous fine scratches and rubbing from use.
• The included sewing notions are assorted used household contents. Their individual age, maker, completeness, and working condition are not confirmed.

Collector's Notes

The Dala Horse, or Dalahäst, is closely associated with Sweden's Dalarna province and became one of the most recognizable forms of Swedish folk decoration.

Round souvenir tins like this often survived because they were too useful to throw away. Sewing supplies were an especially common second life for small household tins.

This example still carries the sewing notions found inside, so it works as both a Scandinavian decorative piece and an honest little piece of household storage history.

The bright blue lid and red horse make it easy to recognize across a shelf, while the worn rim and base show that this one was actually used rather than simply stored away.

If you collect Dalarna Dala Horse pieces, this round tin still holds the sewing notions found inside, so it is ready to work on a sewing table or shelf. If it's the one you've been looking for, it's ready to come home.