This pair of the “Krister” armchair model is a true Swedish design icon, and is among Arne Norell’s cosiest works. These high-back armchairs’ comfort is only rivalled by their stylishness and elegance. Arne Norell was a household name within the interior design-world of Europe, and his models were also produced in other parts of the world under a licence.

Raised on a stained wood frame covered in beautiful, light coloured bouclé upholstery, this model symbolizes the heyday of Swedish mid-century design. The gently elongated, tufted back of each chair is accentuated by a loose hanging headrest, which is the standout feature of this model. The removable headrests are simple, yet ingenious design elements that signify the Scandinavian design principle of functionality. The sitter of this model is “hugged” by the ear flaps on both sides of the backrests, and by the loose seat cushions on the raised bottoms. Norell had a unique design idiom, which is clearly visible in this model: function, durability, timeless design, and perhaps above all, comfort. This pair of traditional yet playful “Krister” armchairs combines all of these attributes, which makes this model one of the most sought after works of Norell’s.

These chair were manufactured by ‘Möbel AB Arne Norell’ and have been reupholstered in a premium bouclé fabric to complement and enhance their elegance and comfort. The factory in Aneby, Sweden has been famous for its furniture manufactured by hand. Norell Furniture still operates to this day, keeping the legacy of the great Swedish designer alive.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The armchairs have been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric.

Dimensions:

26.96 in W x 30.7 in D x 40.94 in H; Seat height 16.53 in

68.5 cm W x 78 cm D x 104 cm H; Seat height 42 cm

About the designer:

The Swedish designer, Arne Norell was born in 1917 in Åsele, Sweden, and was active in the post-war era, at the height of international fascination with Scandinavian design.

While little biographical information is available about his formative years, it is known that he opened a furniture workshop in Stockholm in 1954. In 1958, he launched his eponymous manufacturing company, “Møbel AB Arne Norell”, on a two-acre farm in Småland. Through the course of his prolific career, this idyllic setting remained Norell’s central source of inspiration and the site where he designed and produced all of his furniture until he passed away in 1971.

Norell is often praised for pioneering “conceptual” furniture, because he employed traditional materials - leather, turned wood, bentwood, and metal, for example - in unexpected forms, often with lyrical results. His designs have an affinity with those of Danish designer Kaare Klint (1888-1954), who, a generation before, brought time-honoured, vernacular forms into modernist expression. In fact, Klint’s iconic Safari Chair (1933) inspired Norell to create the Sirocco Safari Chair (1964), which is lightweight, collapsible, and held together by leather support straps instead of glue or screws. Norell’s wood-framed Inka Armchair, Indra Sofa, and Ilona Sofa (design dates unverified) are likewise held together by leather.

While Norell’s designs found a solid market within his lifetime, his greatest recognition came posthumously: The British Furniture Manufacturers Association awarded Norell’s low-slung, steel-framed, leather-clad Ari Chair (1966) “Show Piece of the Year” in 1973. Norell’s pieces have become increasingly collectible in the 2010s.

Today, Norell’s daughter and son-in-law, Marie Norell-Möller and Thomas Möller, carry on his work, operating under the name Norell Møbel AB. In 2014, the company celebrated its 60th anniversary. It is the only Swedish company that has continuously manufactured the entirety of Norell’s catalogue since the 1950s. ~H.