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Price category: 2,500 - 5,000 usd / eur

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The "Stora Kraal" easy chair was originally designed by Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist in 1952, and was quickly incorporated into Nordiska Kompaniet’s famous Triva Collection, a new versatile furniture series aimed at modern, postwar consumers.

Lacquered metal, wicker and leather. This model is defined by its materials and its immediately recognizable design created by the masterful combination of them. Known for her unique and humanistic design vision, Hörlin-Holmquist created the Stora Kraal according to these principles. Accordingly, this model holds a soft simplicity and a uniqueness in its appearance - light, clean lines with organic materials and form. Without worrying about short-lived trends and what other people thought, Hörlin-Holmquist created the peculiar, shell shape of this chair that is only increasing in popularity. The design is very open, the backrest flows down and opens up to form the armrests and wide seat. While the armrests sit low and hardly separate from the back and seat, they still give the impression of hugging the sitter. The woven wicker body is held by the metal structure that is composed in a masterful way, providing stability despite its light, minimal appearance.

Hörlin-Holmquist took a larger role in the development of the Triva Collection to provide Nordiska Kompaniet with a variety of furniture designs and interior fittings that expressed a modern Scandinavian ethos through soft lines and adaptive humanism. This Stora Kraal, thanks to its materials, is the collection’s most organic piece, and to many, the most desired one as well.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. New leather straps.

Dimensions:

27.75 in W x 32.67 in D x 39.37 in H; Seat height 15.74 in

70.5 cm W x 83 cm D x 100 cm H; Seat height 40 cm

About the Designer:

Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist was born on May 30, 1925 in Arvika, Sweden. She was a Swedish modernist architect and designer. Hörlin-Holmquist graduated from Stockholm’s Konstfack in 1952, and before that she studied and worked in England.

She often worked with her husband Erik Holmquist, and together they modelled and created the pieces together. A key aspect for the couple was always to test their designs in their own home before completing a project.

"I think both furniture and textiles, wherever they end up, must be kind, gentle and courteous, but without losing their character. They should have human qualities, not be pompous and only stand alone, but be able to adapt to the environment they end up in..."

Hörlin-Holmquist worked and studied in England from 1946-1947 immediately after the war, where she also studied art history and became fascinated with the classic English upholstered furniture and style. Something that without a doubt inspired her own creations later in life while she still developed her own expression. She returned to Sweden where she attended Konstfack from 1948 and graduated from the school in 1952. She started working with Nordiska Kompaniet shortly after her graduation and became a lead designer. Her timeless and iconic ‘Paradiset Collection’ was created during her employment with Nordiska Kompaniet in 1956-1957 and holds a soft simplicity and a uniqueness in its appearance - light, clean lines and yet gracious with an air of romance.

Today, her designs are highly treasured collectibles. She is primarily remembered, for her ability to create designs for the modern home in the 1950s without worrying about short-lived trends and what other people thought - to stay true to her own unique and humanistic design vision. ~H.