Arne Norell’s enduring designs mixed leather and metal as well as turned wood and bentwood in pieces that allowed the natural beauty of these materials to shine. Simple and casual yet sophisticated, his vintage sofas, lounge chairs and other furniture epitomize the Scandinavian modern style that took post–World War II design by storm.
Although he created versatile furnishings that promoted comfort along with style, Norell is lesser known than many other mid-century designers, with some of his work produced only after his death. Born in Åsele, Sweden, Norell opened a furniture workshop in Solna, just north of Stockholm, in 1954. In 1958, he established Møbel AB Arne Norell on a farm in Småland. (This region is also the birthplace of IKEA, which opened its first store that same year.) The beauty and tranquility of this location were a source of inspiration.
In Småland, Norell created his most well-known designs, among them the Inca armchair with visible wooden dowels and plush leather, the Indra and Ilona sofas and the spare but elegant wood-framed Sirocco chair (1964). For many of his designs, Norell looked to the same military-style campaign furniture that had, decades prior, inspired the revered Safari chair (1933) crafted by Kaare Klint, a legendary Danish designer and Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts professor who taught the likes of Hans Wegner, Ole Wanscher and others.
Like these earlier furniture designers, Norell was committed to making comfortable and practical furniture. Using leather and warm woods as the building blocks of his work, he eschewed glue and screws, instead securing his designs with buckles and leather straps. In 1973, Norell earned posthumous recognition from the British Furniture Manufacturers Association for his sumptuous Ari chair, a luxurious lounge set on a chrome-plated steel frame with foam cushions covered in leather.
During his lifetime, Norell’s work was popular among European interior designers. However, it became more widely known after 1971, when many of his designs were finally put into production. Norell’s furnishings, as well as work by his daughter Marie Norell-Möller and other Swedish designers, are still crafted by hand in the Aneby, Sweden, factory operated by Norell Furniture, which has remained a family-run company.
Find a collection of authentic vintage Arne Norell furniture today on 1stDibs.
Arne Norell Ilona Safari Loveseat Danish Modern
By Arne Norell
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Safari Loveseat by Arne Norell. Model “Ilona”. Original leather shows patina. 59w 30d 28.5h 15.5s
Leather
$11,000 / set
Pair Arne Norell Leather Chesterfield Club Chairs
By Arne Norell
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Arne Norell Leather Chesterfield Club Chairs with rear casters.
Leather
Easy Chairs in Beech and Original Mohair Velvet Upholstery by Arne Norell, 1952
By Arne Norell
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Easy Chairs in Beech and Original Mohair Velvet Upholstery by Arne Norell, 1952 Additional Information: Material: Beech and original mohair velvet upholstery Style: Mid century, Sca...
Beech, Mohair, Velvet
Arne Norell Sofa Kontiki by Arne Norell, Sweden, 1970s
By Arne Norell
Located in Stockholm, SE
3-Seater sofa model Kontiki designed by Arne Norell in original black leather. Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden. Very good condition!.
Leather
Arne Norell Buffalo Leather "Merkur" Easy Chair, 1960s
By Arne Norell
Located in Stockholm, SE
Model 'Merkur' designed by Arne Norell, 1960s. Produced by Arne Norell Möbel in Aneby, Sweden.
Leather
Arne Norell Easy Chair Model "Löven", 1960s
By Arne Norell
Located in Stockholm, SE
Easy chair model Löven designed by Arne Norell. Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden, 1960s. Original buffalo leather. Excellent condition.
Leather
Inca Chair ottoman designed by Arne Norell for Norell Mobel AB Sweden
By Norell Möbel AB, Arne Norell
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
inca ottoman designed by Arne Norell Manufactured by Norell Möbel AB, Sweden. Characteristic for Arne Norell‘s Inca furniture series and done other ms...
Wood
Arne Norell “Lido” Sofa for Westbergs Mobler
By Arne Norell
Located in Turners Falls, MA
Arne Norell “Lido” Sofa for Westbergs. Sculptural Black Lacquered Legs Support this Unique 1960’s Sofa Form. More recent micro suede upholstery with nail hea...
Upholstery
Arne Norell Safari Sofa Tropical Swedish 1960 Leather Bench
By Arne Norell
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Unique sofa of the 1960s of the designer Arne Norell in massive mahogany and black leather. New Tropical cotton fabric remakes.
Leather, Mahogany
"Ari" Chairs by Arne Norell Scandinavian Mid Century Modern - a pair
By Arne Norell
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Scandinavian Modern "Ari" Chairs by Arne Norell. Made in Sweden. Original leather and steel base. Leather shows wear throughout. Can sell separately. Price for pair.
Steel
Arne Norell Ari Lounge Chair in Patinated Leather
By Arne Norell, Norell Möbel AB
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Low slung steel framed leather 'Ari' Lounge chair by Swedish designer Arne Norell from 1966. This vintage lounge chair comes with original patinated leathe The soft high gloss chrome...
Steel
Pair 1970s Green Leather 'Inca' Lounge Chairs With Ottoman By Arne Norell AB
By Norell Möbel AB, Arne Norell
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
These iconic Inca model lounge chairs with matching ottoman were designed in the 1970s by Swedish designer Arne Norell for Norell AB. A celebrated example of Scandinavian modern desi...
Leather, Canvas, Beech
Arne Norell Black Leather Safari Easy Chair, Sweden ca. 1970s
By Arne Norell
Located in Geneva, CH
Vintage teak and black leather Safari chair by Arne Norell and produced by Arne Norell AB, Sweden ca. 1960's Good condition except ...
Leather, Teak
Arne Norell Merkur Lounge Chair, Sweden, 1960
By Arne Norell
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice and comfortable Merkur lounge chair designed by Arne Norell and manufactured by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden, 1960. The chair has very nice olive green tufted leather cu...
Leather, Ash
'Pilot’ Easy Chairs by Arne Norell for Norell möbel AB, Sweden 1960s
By Arne Norell, Norell Möbel AB
Located in Utrecht, NL
Swedish designer, Arne Norell’s conceptual designs, gained recognition for their use of traditional materials and forms like fabrics and wood combined with simple and vanguard lines....
Fabric, Wood
1970s Set of Two Swedish Arne Norell Rotang Lounge Chairs by Norell
By Arne Norell
Located in Knebel, DK
1970s set of two Swedish Arne Norell Rotang lounge chairs by Norell The chairs with their fully intact fabric upholstery are in good vintage condition and frames of the chairs have ...
Beech
$5,260 / set
"Scirocco" Safari Chairs
By Arne Norell
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
Scirocco" Safari Chairs by Arne Norell, 1960s Introducing a pair of iconic "Scirocco" safari chairs, designed by the esteemed Swedish designer Arne Norell in the 1960s. These chairs...
Leather, Linen, Ash
Arne Norell Sofa Model Ilona Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden
By Arne Norell
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
3-seat sofa model Ilona designed by Arne Norell. Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden.
Brass
3-Piece 'Model 925' Sofa by Arne Norell for Coja Culemborg, Sweden 1960s
By Arne Norell
Located in Chicago, IL
The Model 925 sofa was designed by Arne Norell for Coja Culemborg in the 1960s. Draped in dark brown, high-quality leather, its plush tufted cushions rest on a solid wood frame, achi...
Leather, Wood
Original Midcentury Sessel Arne Norell Armlehnstuhl Mexico Leder
By Arne Norell
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen von insgesamt 2 wunderschönen Vintage Sesseln von Arne Norell aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Sessel wurde professionell gereinigt, die Lederfarbe aufgefri...
Leather, Wood
Arne Norell Sofa Model Indra Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden
By Arne Norell
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Sofa model Indra designed by Arne Norell. Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden.
Brass
Three-Seater "Langenthal" Sofa by Arne Norell for Norell Möbel AB, Sweden 1960s
By Norell Möbel AB, Arne Norell
Located in Utrecht, NL
Swedish designer Arne Norell’s designs gained recognition for their use of traditional materials, like fabrics and wood, combined with simple and vanguard lines. This three-seater ‘L...
Fabric, Wood
Danish Arne Norell Brown Vintage Retro 1960's two seater Leather Sofa
By Arne Norell
Located in Markington, GB
Danish Mid-Century Modern Leather Sofa by Ellekær & Norell for Coja A superb Danish Mid-Century Modern two-seat sofa designed by Ellekær & Norell for Coja, exemplifying the timeless...
Leather, Wood
Original Midcentury Sessel Arne Norell Armlehnstuhl Mexico Leder2
By Arne Norell
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen von insgesamt 2 wunderschönen Vintage Sesseln von Arne Norell aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Sessel wurde professionell gereinigt, die Lederfarbe aufgefri...
Leather, Wood
Midcentury Modern Leather Settee Model ‘Ilona’ by Arne Norell, 1960
By Arne Norell, Aneby Mobler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful leather settee designed by Arne Norell in the early 1960s and produced by Aneby Møbler, Sweden, with thick, dark leather cushions on saddle leather sling supports with bras...
Brass
$1,026Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish design 70s, Arne Norell loungechair, original upholstery, leather, chrom
By Arne Norell
Located in Tarm, 82
Swedish desiged lounge chair by Arne Norell. Made in about 1970. Refreshed by furniture craftsman at Retro Møbler Galleri. Original upholstery. Brown naturally patinated leather. Loo...
Steel
“Pilot” Armchair by Arne Norell for Norell Möbel, 1960s
By Arne Norell
Located in Brescia, IT
Pink leather armchair with a bentwood frame and a removable cushion. Design by Arne Norell from 1967, with the Norell label attached. The “Pilot,” designed by Arne Norell in 1967, i...
Leather, Wood
Midcentury Swedish Sofa "Kontiki" by Arne Norell
By Arne Norell, Norell Möbel AB
Located in Karlstad, SE
This two-seater sofa was designed by Arne Norell in the 1970s. The "Kontiki" model reflects Norell's mastery of Scandinavian design, combining both comfort and craftsmanship. It feat...
Leather, Beech
Arne Norell Pilot Lounge Chairs, Beech Wood & Upholstery, Sweden, 1985
By Arne Norell, Norell Möbel AB
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of Pilot lounge chairs by Arne Norell for Norell Möbel AB, designed in 1967. Norell was noted for his ingenious use of wood, and this pair are notable for their incredible com...
Upholstery, Beech
Arne Norell curvy Soffa Produced by Westbergs Möbler, Sweden, circa 1960
By Arne Norell
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
A rare curvy 3 seats Arne Norell soffa produced by Westbergs Möbler edition in 1950. The sofa is composed by stained beech feets and is reupholstered with a bouclette fabric in white...
Bouclé, Beech
1970s Kontiki Three Seat Sofa by Arne Norell for Scanform with New Upholstery
By Scanform, Arne Norell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Kontiki Three-Seat Leather Sofa, initially designed by Arne Norell in 1970. This example was produced by Scanform in Colombia in the early 1970s. The 'Kontiki' line was ins...
Teak, Leather, Foam
Midcentury Swedish Lounge Chairs "Löven" by Arne Norell
By Norell Möbel AB, Arne Norell
Located in Karlstad, SE
A lounge chair model "Löven" by Arne Norell, 1960s. This chair has a timeless classic design and, as with all Norell furniture, the construction quality is extremely high. The frame...
Teak, Leather
"Divina" loveseat sofa by Arne Norell, Westbergs möbler, Sweden, 1950s
By Arne Norell
Located in Hägersten, SE
Pair of loveseat sofas model "Divina" produced in Sweden by Westbergs möbler. Made during the 1950s. Designed by Arne Norell. Reupholstered with Hallingdal 65 fabric from Danish prod...
Wool, Beech
Arne Norell, Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs, Leather, Steel, 1960s
By Arne Norell
Located in Stamford, CT
Arne Norell, Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs, Leather, Steel, 1960s Rare pair of Swedish modern easy chairs designed by Arne Norel...
Steel
Arne Norell Leather and Chrome Sofa Danish Modern
By Arne Norell
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Arne Norell Leather and Chrome Sofa. Original leather. 77w 33d 30h 15s
Metal
ARNE NORELL armchair asymmetric made in Sweden around 1960
By Arne Norell
Located in Paris, IDF
Arne Norell asymmetrical free form model armchairn stained birch and newly upholstered off white boucle fabric . Produced in Sweden. Rare mod...
Fabric, Birch
Arne Norell Sofa Model Ilona Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden
By Arne Norell
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
2-seat sofa model Ilona designed by Arne Norell. Produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden.
Brass
1970s Patinated Leather Wingback Krister Armchair by Arne Norell
By Arne Norell
Located in London, London
This is a 1970s "Krister" armchair designed by the renowned Swedish designer Arne Norell. The chair embodies the elegance and functionality typical of Scandinavian mid-century modern...
Leather