It’s not often you see a friendly bear as a waiter, holding aloft a tray of food. That’s what attracted us to this artwork on a 1964 Swedish menu.

The little fox, napkin around his neck and looking expectantly at the food, is from Skansen, the oldest open-air museum and zoo in Sweden located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden.

 It was founded in 1891 by the Swedish teacher and folklorist Artur Hazelius ( 1833 -1901) to show the way of life in different parts of Sweden before the industrial era.

The restaurant’s name Solliden is – we guess – named after Solliden Palace, the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family. The palace is situated near the ruin of Borgholm Castle on the island of The Öland in southern Sweden along its Baltic coast.

Swedes-if you have more information on this restaurant, we’d love to hear it. 

Courtesy Private Collection.