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Price category: 9,000 - 12,500 usd / eur

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In the mid-1950s, Carl Malmsten awarded ten small furniture companies, mainly in Småland, the honour of making a series of some of his products. Among the first pieces was Farmor, which soon became the most popular armchair in production.

In 1956, Carl Malmsten was on one of his regular visits to Sjögren's Upholstery Workshop in Tranås to develop new models for his furniture program. That was when these “Grandma” armchairs came into being and since then, the model has become a dear family member in many Swedish homes. Carl Malmsten wanted the furniture to express a special feeling or mood, which is also reflected in how he named them. These armchairs’ name relates to the design’s utmost comfort, that is exuded through the friendly and round shapes, femininity and cosiness. The pair’s frames are made of solid pine from Swedish forests to provide a sturdy base. The high-backs have an unmistakeable “crown” on top of them, that complements the armrests’ outward curling lines. The sitting comfort of this model is quite famous, the seat and the springs together, create extreme comfort. The plump seats and button tufting further add to the warm feeling of the design, while keeping it stylish and modern.

Carl Malmsten wanted these Farmor or Grandmother armchairs to express a particular feeling of warmth and comfort with the friendly and rounded forms. The femininity and the impression of homecoming that is often associated with the word ‘grandma’ is apparent in the design, which is undoubtedly why this model has been continuously beloved for the past six decades.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs have been reupholstered recently in 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:

28.34 in W x 33.85 in D x 39.96 in H; Seat height 18.3 in

72 cm W x 86 cm D x 101.5 cm H; Seat height 46.5 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.