A Pair of Carl Malmsten Armchairs, Circa 1940s
About the Item
- Creator:Carl Malmsten (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Depth: 31 in (78.74 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU857839111512
Carl Malmsten
Carl Malmsten, a prominent furniture designer and educator associated with Swedish modernism, enjoyed immense popularity for his shapely sofas and armchairs in luscious color palettes. Malmsten believed that light — much like our eyes and bodies — doesn’t like to bump into sharp objects. Smooth edges, on the other hand, are kinder to the eye and and to our touch, and allow light to softly bounce off surfaces. Malmsten felt that if his furniture didn’t “serve well” in the home, it had no business being there.
Malmsten’s career essentially began in 1915, when his submissions for a competition to furnish the new Stockholm City Hall were first- and second-place prize winners. In the 1920s, his profile soared. He won a prize at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts — the show that brought the Art Deco style to worldwide attention — and quickly became one of the most sought-after designers of commercial seating in Sweden.
Malmsten was soon contracted to design chairs, tables and other furniture for the Stockholm Concert Hall, the Swedish Institute in Rome and the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. His famous Art Nouveau-influenced Stadshusstolen chair, designed for Stockholm City Hall in 1916, is a highlight of the city’s recently opened Museum of Furniture Studies. Malmsten expanded into interior design and created a luxurious, well-appointed living room in the palace of then-Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and his bride, Crown Princess Louise.
In the 1930s, Malmsten clashed with critics when he voiced his opposition to functionalism. Like Danish modernist Kaare Klint, he favored using quality local materials and prized traditional craftsmanship. Malmsten’s furniture draws on graceful neoclassical influences, and he said that extreme functionalism contributed to “sterile” interiors — while the curving contours of his work may share ground with furniture designed by Alvar Aalto or Bruno Mathsson, Malmsten differed with Bauhaus eminences and some Scandinavian modernists on their prioritization of functionalism.
For an exhibition in 1956 at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Malmsten designed furniture that was intended for mass production — and his striking designs began to make their way into middle-class Swedish homes owing to Malmsten’s partnerships with manufacturers such as O.H. Sjögren. Until then, he had built his pieces at the school he founded in the 1930s or had them made by artisans at several small local workshops.
Malmsten founded a number of schools for design and collaborated with other designers who shared his philosophy of “hand and mind in creative collaboration.” These included the esteemed textile artist Märta Måås Fjetterström, whose pieces he included in exhibits and even his own home.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Carl Malmsten seating, tables, cabinets and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Danish Upholstered Armchair, circa 1940sLocated in New York, NYA Danish upholstered club chair with stained beechwood legs, circa 1940s. Recently upholstered with a cotton blend and contrasting buttons and piping.Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery
- A Pair of Werner West Open Armchairs, Circa 1930sBy Werner WestLocated in New York, NYA pair of Finnish elmwood high back open-armchairs designed by Werner West, Circa 1930-40. Produced by Wilhelm Schaumannin, Vaneritehdas Oy, Jyväskylä, Finland. The high curved back ...Category
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsElm
- A pair of Swedish Birch Stools, Circa 1940sLocated in New York, NYA pair of Swedish birch wood stools, Circa 1940s, the upholstered rectangular tops raised of straight legs with a rounded edge and joined by an H-form cross stretcher. Re-covered in ...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsBirch
- Nordiska Kompaniet Wall Shelves, Circa 1940sBy NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)Located in New York, NYTwo Swedish Nordiska Kompaniet birch wood wall shelves, Circa 1940s, Adjustable shelves. Solid Birch shelves, adjustable, mounted to the wall with birch brackets with holes. Stamped....Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsBirch
- Swedish Grace Elmroot Table, Circa 1940sLocated in New York, NYA Swedish Grace, elm, elm root and ebonized table or desk by Erik Chambert, with a rectangular top raised on rectangular supports with leaf-tip carving and carved scrolled feet.Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsElm
- A Swedish Modern Elmwood Side Table, Circa 1940sLocated in New York, NYAn interesting Swedish Modern elm side table, Circa 1940-50, the circular top with book matched elm veneer raised on four incurved legs. Owners name and dated on underside.Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Side Tables
MaterialsElm
- Pair of Carl Malmsten of Armchairs, circa 1950sBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBCarl Malmsten Armchairs, circa 1950s A pair of upholstered armchairs from Swedish master: Carl Malmsten. This model is a lighter variation on the Samsas chair with taller legs. Th...Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsBouclé, Beech
- Pair of Carl Malmsten of Armchairs, circa 1950sBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBCarl Malmsten Armchairs, circa 1950s A pair of upholstered armchairs from Swedish master: Carl Malmsten. This model is a lighter variation on the Samsas chair with taller legs. This...Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsBouclé, Beech
- Carl Malmsten Armchair, circa 1950sBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBCarl Malmsten Armchair, circa 1950s. An armchair upholstered armchairs from Swedish master: Carl Malmsten. This model is a lighter variation on the Samsas chair...Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsBouclé, Beech
- Pair of Vintage Swedish Armchairs by Carl MalmstenBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBA stunning and exceedingly rare pair of vintage Swedish armchairs by Carl Malmsten. They were recently imported from Sweden, they date from the 1940-50’s. This early model is of sup...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Carl Malmsten Pair of Armchairs in Oak and Brown UpholsteryBy Carl MalmstenLocated in Waalwijk, NLCarl Malmsten, pair of armchairs, oak, fabric, Sweden, 1940s This pair of armchairs is designed by Swedish designer Carl Malmsten (1888-1972). The shape of the lines are striking a...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
- Pair of Vintage Scandinavian Modern Carl Malmsten Samsas Original ArmchairsBy O.H. Sjögren, Carl MalmstenLocated in Kramfors, SECarl Malmsten Samsas armchairs for O.H. Sjögren from the mid 20th century. The chairs are a Swedish modern classic and the Samsas series is today recognised as the most characteristi...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood