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

Sweden contributed to the progression of form and function in its own way, based on long-standing traditions, natural resources, and the critical - yet often coincidental - availability of creative genius. Folke Jansson was certainly one of the latter, designing unique forms with an artistic touch.

Jansson is a designer who is difficult to define, being the creator of daily objects which are far from the organic forms of Alvar Aalto, and yet not aiming for the minimalism of Arne Jacobsen or Poul Kjaerholm. His experimentation has led him to play both with the free forms embedded into materials, and with the geometric shapes superimposed on them. This ‘Orion’ sofa is a beautiful example of this combination, with a modern appearance that is still very much Swedish at its core. Swedish Modern means natural form and honest treatment of materials. As such, this sofa has a welcoming, open design with a shell-like body and organic wooden tapered legs. While the body embraces the sitter, the edges curve outward, creating a rim along the back and arms. This curve continues along the bottom of the seat as well, framing the seating cushion visually. In the absence of ornamentation, the solid stained beech legs and the spherical brass “feet” stand out. Thanks to the vibrant and bold red fabric, the upholstery can be considered the main decorative element, with its colour highlighting the curves and wood overlay details on the armrests.

During the peak of the Swedish Modern period, the ornate was completely replaced with cleaner lines. In Sweden, “svensk design” in particular denotes a way of life, which can be traced in the openness, understated elegance, and high-quality craftsmanship of this sofa.

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some marks on the wood. The sofa has been reupholstered by a previous owner. 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:

58.66 in W x 31.89 in D x 29.92 in H; Seat height 18.11 in; Seat depth 22.83 in; Arm height 20.47 in

149 cm W x 81 cm D x 76 cm H; Seat height 46 cm; Seat depth 58 cm; Arm height 52 cm

About the Designer:

Multi-talented artist, sculptor, painter, ceramist, Folke Jansson (1920-2017) is one of the representatives of Swedish design. At first, he was primarily recognized for his work as a painter, sculptor, and engraver throughout the 1940s, when he established his ceramic studio in Köping.

Folke Jansson turned towards design when he had the idea to make his own chair, but found it too difficult to make. He asked for the assistance of the Wincrantz Company that started shaping his prototype with metal and papier-mâché which gave birth to the tripod chair, “Arabesk”. He exhibited the model in 1955 at the Göteborg Furniture Fair in Sweden with SM Wincrantz. This event and the success of the Arabesk was the starting point of a long collaboration between the designer and the firm. Jansson began designing furniture for the company and continued to experiment with free forms and geometric shapes.

Nowadays, his work is represented in museums around Sweden and internationally as well, such as at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany that is among the world's leading museums of design. ~H