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

These “New Berlin” chairs are among Swedish icon Carl Malmsten’s rarer models. The dark wood, the beautiful upholstery and timeless, clean design makes the “New Berlin” model a beautiful representation of Sweden’s mid-century design history. In 1937, Carl Malmsten designed a sofa for the Swedish diplomatic mission in Berlin - he named the sofa “Berlin”. Perhaps the idea of these chairs came from the same mission.

Carl Malmsten was an individualist who took a strong position against the strict functionalism which blossomed during the 1930’s. As an alternative, he put forward a totally different program for a renewal of architecture and goods for everyday use. He fought for the right of humans to experience beauty. “Break all edges thoroughly” was a frequent instruction on Carl Malmsten’s drawings, and nature was his great source of inspiration - therefore sharp edges or corners can rarely be found on his designs, including these easy chairs. The soft curves that define their shape not only evoke a sense of inviting comfort, but also serve a practical purpose: the curvature conforms to the natural contours of the human body, making them the perfect spot to engage in leisurely conversation. Mid-century modern design has a penchant for soft curves and organic forms, and these easy chairs are no exception. The preference for such design elements arises from their ability to soften the lines of a room, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. Still, the soft outline of the design is crisp, enhanced by the textured upholstery and the line tracing. The upholstery adds an extra dimension of classic sophistication to the aesthetic that is reminiscent of the Art Deco era. With a frame in solid wood, these chairs also feature a sturdy structure that was created to last. The beautiful tapered wooden legs add a modern detail that balances out the fully upholstered bodies. The gentle curves of these chairs offer a pleasing contrast to the clean lines and angular shapes often associated with mid-century modern interiors. They seamlessly integrate into a variety of design schemes, enhancing the overall aesthetic and imbuing the space with a touch of timeless elegance.

As a furniture maker, Malmsten expressed the old, inherited forms as well as the new, bold ideas with his language of design. The result will forever be the same - beautiful, eternal individual pieces of furniture which together create a unified and harmonious feeling.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs have been reupholstered recently in a premium fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.

Dimensions:

27.95 in W x 27.95 in D x 28.15 in H; Seat height 17.72 in; Arm height 24.80 in; Seat depth 20.08 in

71 cm W x 71 cm D x 71.5 cm H; Seat height 45 cm; Arm height 63 cm; Seat depth 51 cm

About the designer:

Carl Malmsten (December 7, 1888 – August 13, 1972) was a Swedish furniture designer, architect, and educator. Malmsten was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Malmsten's career took off when he won a competition in 1916 to design furniture for the Stockholm City Hall and shortly after in 1917, he exhibited alongside well-known Swedish architects such as Gunnar Asplund and Uno Åhrén.

In the 1920s he was invited to furnish a room for the crown prince, Gustaf VI Adolf, and his wife Louise in Ulriksdal Palace. He was honoured with an inaugural Prince Eugen Medal for design in 1945. Already as a young designer in the early 20th century, Carl Malmsten advocated an artisanal furniture design based on local ingredients and traditions, available to a wide audience at a reasonable price.

Nature was Carl Malmsten's foremost teacher and source of inspiration. He conveyed his love of craftsmanship as a teacher in his own schools, at Olofskolan in Stockholm, Capellagården on Öland and the Carl Malmsten school on Lidingö, today a branch of Linköping University and one of the country's leading design colleges. As a debater, Malmsten stormed against functionalism, but in retrospect it can be seen that his ideas often coincided with the rational and frugal style ideals of function.

Malmsten has had a lasting influence on Swedish furniture design through the two schools he founded—the Carl Malmsten Furniture Studies (Carl Malmstensskolan), which has been a part of Linköping University since 2000, is situated on the island of Lidingö on the outskirts of Stockholm. Carl Malmsten spoke about the importance of tradition, craftsmanship and the nation. His furniture was in many ways a product of the thoughts and ideals of the time, they have a timeless quality that makes them just as relevant and loved today. ~H.