REQUEST PRICE HERE

Price category: 15,000 - 20,000 usd / eur‎

Swedish architect and furniture designer Axel Einar Hjorth served as the lead designer for Sweden’s Nordiska Kompaniet department store from 1926 to 1938. During this time, Hjorth designed the “Sportstugemöbler” series, (which translates to “sports cabin furnishings”) a collection of wooden furniture designed for country homes. The various models in the sportstugemöbler series took their names from the Stockholm archipelago – including Blidö, Lovö, and famously, Utö.

These Utö chairs were designed in 1932 as part of the collection. Unlike the department store's interiors for floors and villas in the cities, the Utö designs had a simple character with robust and basic shapes in solid pine. Accordingly, the design of these chairs focuses on simple lines and the material itself. Made of pine wood, these chairs are strong, reflecting Hjorth’s principles in which he mixed the ideals of the modernist movement with provincial Swedish traditions. As a result, the design of this set is completely timeless. Each chair demonstrates a conscious construction, where the joinery and fittings related to traditional craftsmanship are emphasized. Dominated by rounded, straight lines, the chairs have spindle backrests and ergonomically carved seats. The form alludes harmony and stability, fitting the summer cabin concept perfectly.

In an international perspective, Hjorth's “sportstugemöbler” series was the forerunner of later pioneering designers such as Charlotte Perriand. It is therefore no surprise that these Utö chairs became part of Swedish and international modernist design history. In their time, the Utö collection may have appeared as pioneering and radical, but today they are viewed as status symbols in interiors of international character.‎

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some marks and stains on the wood. Due to the nature and age of the wood, the items may have scratches and discolouration.

Dimensions:

18.89 in W x 18.3 in D x 31.49 in H; Seat height 16.92 in

48 cm W x 46.5 cm D x 80 cm H; Seat height 43 cm

Literature:

Christian Bjork, Thomas Ekstrom and Eric Ericson, 'Axel Einar Hjorth: Mobelarkitekt', Stockholm, 2009, p.130

About the designer:

Axel Einar Hjorth was born in a small Swedish village named Krokek, just outside Norrköping, on March 7, 1888. At the age of 20, he moved to Stockholm to study architecture and design at the Högre Konstindustriella Skolan.

Although he never graduated, in the 1920s Hjorth started working as a furniture designer for various manufacturers, such as H. Joop & Co., Myrestedt & Stern, Jonssons, and Nordiska Kompaniet. Hjorth’s designs from this period had neoclassical features combined with Swedish Grace. This romantic national style of Sweden was elegant and refined, yet simple. The anniversary exhibition of 1923 in Gothenburg marked the breakthrough of Swedish decorative arts, and made Axel Einar Hjorth a well-respected artist. From October 1926, Hjorth became the chief designer and architect of Nordiska Kompaniet department store in Stockholm. In the 1930s, Hjorth designed a furniture collection out of pine meant for serial production known as Sportstugemöbler (furniture for holiday houses).

Hjorth’s designs, from the luxury of neoclassicism to the severity of functionalism, are sharply distinctive in style, materials, and character. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hjorth did not conform to the socially oriented ideas produced by Svensk Form (the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design). He played a significant role in the development of Swedish society as a whole, and particularly in Swedish industrial art

Today Hjorth is often viewed as a precursor to the modern designs popularized by Charlotte Perriand, Jean Royére, Pierre Chapo, or Josef Frank. Recently, there has been a revival of appreciation for his work, showing his genius in a new light. ~H.

REQUEST PRICE HERE

Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur

Derived from the French "brut", meaning raw, Brutalism describes the architectural style that emerged in the mid-20th century, featuring minimalist constructions that showcase bare materials and structural elements over decorative design. It originated post–World War II, when low-cost housing and government buildings were composed of mainly raw, unrefined materials. Similarly, in furniture design, Brutalism inspired creators to follow the same look of deliberate simplicity, rawness and strength.

These chairs reflect the deliberate simplicity, rawness and strength sought out by the creators of Brutalist pieces. Without any heavy ornamentation, the focus falls on the natural materials, the authenticity being celebrated, rather than disguised or embellished. This choice of pine not only aligns with the organic principles of Brutalism, but it also contributes to the chairs' overall longevity in both form and function. Each chair is constructed from dark-stained wood, with legs and backrests that appear hand cut rather than machined. The robust, slightly irregular forms emphasise the hand of the maker, lending the chairs a distinctly tactile, grounded character. The proportions are harmonious, with the backs that widen towards the top, and mirroring splayed tripod legs. The beauty of craftsmanship is evident in every detail of this set. The resulting union of form and function exemplifies the marriage of beauty and useful design.

This set of chairs is ideal for a space that embraces authenticity and values materials in their natural form. Their clean look and rustic sensibility make them stand out without the need for embellishment, offering a quiet but impactful addition within an interior.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs have recently been reconditioned. Due to the nature and age of the wood, the chairs have some marks, scratches, dents and discolouration.

Dimensions:

16.73 in W x 15.74 in D x 32.67 in H; Seat height 16.33 in; Seat depth 16.92 in

42.5 cm W x 40 cm D x 83 cm H; Seat height 41.5 cm; Seat depth 43 cm

REQUEST PRICE HERE

Price category: 5,000 - 7,500 usd / eur

This beautiful barrel armchair is an example of Swedish mid-century design as well as outstanding craftsmanship with a quality that honours the materials and their users. The period from roughly the 1940s through the 1960s was a high point for Scandinavian furniture makers, and this chair shows why.

Åby Möbelfabrik factory was located in Tjureda parish, in Sweden’s Växjö municipality. The company primarily manufactured pine furniture. The chair’s shape and construction show the signs of the master craftsmanship of Åby Möbelfabrik as the robust, barrel-like body has a rounded construction, with the back flowing into the arms to achieve an enveloping, comforting experience for the user. The wood’s grain and pattern is very appealing throughout the design of this chair, which adds an organic touch to the design. This piece displays a beautiful contrast between the light wood frame’s colour and the elegant off-white fabric of the cushions. The upholstery is just as much a decorative element as the wooden structure with the two materials pairing exceptionally well.

Barrel chairs are generally considered among the best accent chair types as their unique shapes immediately draw the eye. Simply styled and elegant had always been mid-century designers’ speciality, and there is no better example than this pair of unique barrel chairs.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The item has recently been reconditioned. Due to age, the item has some dents, scratches, and discolouration. The cushion has recently been reupholstered in a premium fabric. Each of our items can be reupholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.

Dimensions:

21.26 in W x 18.70 in D x 30.32 in H; Seat height 18.90 in; Seat depth 17.32 in

54 cm W x 47.5 cm D x 77 cm H; Seat height 48 cm; Seat depth 44 cm