Thoms & Nilsson work exclusively with solid, lasting materials that not only age with beauty, but have the smallest possible effects on the environment. The product or sculpture you buy will provide aesthetic joy for many generations to come (as long as it isn’t made of ice.)

Diabase

Diabase is a very tough and dense type of rock formed 1.600 million years ago. This means that the Swedish black diabase, by nature, is an utterly durable material. It’s sometimes referred to as ”the Swedish black gold”. Thoms & Nilsson only use Swedish diabase, and these products are manufactured in limited numbers.

Ice

The Torne river meanders through Lappland in a furrow created by an inland iceflow 10.000 years ago. The river widens at Jukkasjärvi which allows the flow of water to slow down and freeze under calm circumstances. This phenomenon, combined with the pure river water contributes to the crystal clear ice that is completely free from bubbles. Thoms & Nilsson have been working with the ICEHOTEL and natural ice, on several different projects, since 2003.

Concrete

Concrete is a natural long-lasting material that ages with grace. Concrete consists of pieces of rock, water and cement. It dates back to the Roman empire, when volcanic ash was used as the bonding agent. To better its characteristics, concrete with a minimum amount of additives (0,1 – 0,3 percent) is used today.

Steel

Thoms & Nilsson use stainless, galvanized and acid-proof steel that stands the tests of time. Sweden has a long tradition of producing high quality steel – we’ve been producing iron for more than 3.000 years. The magnetite ore is the primary source of iron in Kiruna, Sweden, and demands less energy in the refining process compared to other types of ore, which ultimately places less strain on the environment.

Wood

Thoms & Nilsson use wood materials that can withstand tremendous pressure, and that leave the smallest possible effect on the environment. We primarily use Siberian larch wood, since it grows in permafrost areas and can naturally withstand wood rot. It replaces the need to use more environmentally unsound impregnated woods.

Rock

Thoms & Nilsson have 40 years experience working with most kinds of rock. The Swedish bedrock consists of a variety of beautiful, tough granites. One of our favourites is the grey Bohus granite from Tossene which has been extracted since 1946. Depending on what surface treatment is used, granite varies greatly in structure, colour and expression.