“Alltid Redo” Coffee Table by Carl Malmsten, Sweden 1950s












“Alltid Redo” Coffee Table by Carl Malmsten, Sweden 1950s
REQUEST PRICE HERE
Price category: 1,000 - 2,500 usd / eur
“All edges must be thoroughly broken”, Carl Malmsten often wrote in his drawings. It was nature that was his great source of inspiration, and in nature there are hardly any sharp edges or corners. This “Alltid Redo” coffee table is a perfect example of this sentiment.
Neither the light, the eye nor the person likes to turn against sharp corners, Malmsten explained once. Therefore, edges should be rounded so that they become friendlier to touch and look at. Carl Malmsten was not only one of Sweden's most famous furniture designers, he was also one of the last century's great cultural personalities with a strong influence on the home environment, public environment and the contemporary public debate. His personality shines through the design of this soft-edged table as well.
The design is dominated by the rounded-square tabletop showing the beautiful yet subtle wood grain. To support the top are four straight legs with impeccable joinery that is visible under the tabletop. Since this table was made in the heyday of the mid-century, the legs - and the design as a whole - lacks heavy ornamentation, and instead focuses on the natural beauty of the wood and the rounded edges.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some small marks and scratches on the wood.
Dimensions:
31.49 in W x 31.49 in D x 23.03 in H
80 cm W x 80 cm D x 58.5 cm H
REQUEST PRICE HERE
Price category: 2,500 - 5,000 usd / eur
During the 1950s, Danish Modern furniture placed equal emphasis on structural clarity and refined craftsmanship. Rather than treating tables as purely functional objects, designers created furniture that integrated beauty into day-to-day life. Thanks in great part to an early emphasis on wood and a resistance to certain modernist currents by influential designers, Danish Modern has avoided associations with cold industrialisation and machine aesthetics.
The movement's preference for fine cabinetmaking and expressive timber is evident in this coffee table, whose elegant silhouette is achieved through a restrained combination of curves and expressive wood. The long, rectangular top displays a dramatic grain pattern, with tonal variations across the surface. Supporting it is an elegant, trestle-like base. The designer strayed away from the bulky, robust versions of this iconic base style, opting instead for two sweeping curved side supports connected by a single stretcher, creating an open architectural framework beneath the tabletop. The contrast between the crisp horizontal plane of the top and the flowing curves of the base creates a dynamic, yet balanced, composition. Danish modern designs are, at their core, utilitarian objects; as a result, this table’s form follows function, offering both a generous surface area and great stability. The absence of unnecessary detailing directs attention to the quality of the timber, the precision of the joinery, and the graceful geometry of the structure.
Elegant from every angle, the table demonstrates why Danish Cabinetmakers and their designs are some of the most thoughtful pieces of furniture. Its understated design and versatile character allow it to complement a wide range of interiors while showcasing the enduring appeal of the Danish modern period.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The table has recently been reconditioned. Due to the nature and age of the material, the item has some marks and scratches on the tabletop.
Dimensions:
59.25 in W x 25.59 in D x 21.65 in H
150.5 cm W x 65 cm D x 55 cm H