Swedish furniture designer Axel Einar Hjorth created tables, chairs, cabinets and other pieces that were as elegant as they were functional, and he frequently worked in references to a litany of inspirations including French Art Deco, Gustavian style and modernism. Ahead of his time, his style was refined and daringly simple.
Born in Krokek, Sweden, Hjorth grew up in a foster family and at 20 moved to Stockholm where he studied architecture and design at the Högre Konstindustriella Skolan (now the University of Arts, Crafts & Design). Although he dropped out when his foster father died, he went on to work for some of the largest furniture manufacturers in Sweden during the 1920s.
Hjorth’s work was featured in the 1923 Gothenburg Exhibition world’s fair, and he exhibited a birch and cherry cabinet in the 1927 “Swedish Contemporary Decorative Arts” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His role as the head of the furniture department at Nordiska Kompaniet (NK), an upscale department store in Stockholm, from 1927 to 1938, further brought his designs to widespread acclaim, including pieces exhibited at the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.
At the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition, an influential event in the emergence of functionalism in Swedish design, Hjorth exhibited a dozen room settings that featured examples of sportstugemöbler. These furniture lines were named for islands in Sweden’s archipelago — Utö, Blidö and Torö — with designs intended for cabins and vacation homes. The use of solid Swedish pine in these pieces revealed a love of traditional rustic furniture while the simple forms boldly looked to the future. He also brought his eclectic influences to armchairs formed from tubular metal, blocky case pieces made from birch and upholstered sofas with neoclassical details, each exuberantly mixing form and function.
Find vintage Axel Einar Hjorth furniture today on 1stDibs.
Pair of Swedish Wooden Lovö Armchairs in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK 1930s
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare pair of Swedish wooden low back armchairs in stained pine model "Lovö" by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm in Sweden, 1930s. In good original condition an...
Iron
Axel Einar Hjorth Lovö Rocking Chairs in Pine Wood by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare pair of Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" rocking chairs in pine wood produced by Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden, 1930s. In good original and matching condition. Dimensions: H: 82 cm /...
Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovo" armchair, stained pine and iron rivets
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in New York, NY
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930's. Discover the timeless elegance of the Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovo" armchair in stained pine, a masterpiece of mid-century Swedish design...
Iron
$17,502
H 32.29 in W 20.48 in D 24.41 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Rocking Chair in Pine by Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden 1930
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and early Swedish mid century modern wooden rocking chair model "Lovö" in stained pine by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1932. In good original condition...
Sheepskin, Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth, "Wärmdö" Sofa, Pine, Shearling, Sweden, 1937
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained pine and shearling "Wärmdö" sofa designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1937. Seat Height (inches): 17.25” Arm Height (inches): 24...
Sheepskin, Pine
Pair of "Lovö" Chairs by Axel Einar-Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of low back 'Lovö' chairs by Axel-Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. Very good condition, new cushions.
Pine
$42,694
H 31.11 in W 54.73 in D 17.33 in
1930s Utö Sofa by Axel Einar Hjorth – Nordic Pine Bench for NK, Sweden
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sofa ‘Utö’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s. Stained pine. Provenance: From a private Swedish collection. Original cushion. From 1927 to 1938, Axel-Einar Hjorth was the chief architect and designer at the department store Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm—which was known as one of the most important producers of modernist furniture in Sweden. During this time, Hjorth designed both public and private interiors, and worked with international clients including Iranian royalty. His first project for NK was a stand for the World Fair in Barcelona in 1929, during which he exhibited the Louis Cabinet...
Pine
$120,000
H 32.68 in W 84.65 in D 31.1 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "LOVÖ" sofa, Nordiska Kompaniet, with original cushions.
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in New York, NY
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930's with original cushions. The "Lövö" sofa by Axel Einar Hjorth is a masterful blend of comfort and sophistication, embodying the best o...
Pine
$5,834
H 31.5 in W 17.72 in D 15.95 in
Axel Einar Hjorth - Utö Dining Chair - produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hasselt, VLI
Axel Einar Hjorth “Utö” Dining Chairs - price per piece (5pcs in total avaible). These chairs, part of the Utö expo designed by Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden. T...
Wood, Pine
$22,000
H 28.75 in W 24.81 in D 25.99 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Typenco Club Chairs, Fabric, Birch, Nordiska Kompaniet, 1932
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beige fabric and birch "Typenco" club chairs designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932. Seat Height (inches): 17.25" Arm Height (inc...
Fabric, Birch
Pair of "Lovö" Chairs by Axel Einar-Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of low back 'Lovö' chairs by Axel-Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. Very good condition, original cushions.
Pine
$25,668
H 28.75 in W 66.34 in D 26.78 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Velvet Sofa, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sofa designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s. Velvet Upholstery. Dimensions: H: 73 cm / 2' 4 3/4'' W: 168.5 cm / 5' 6 1/4'' D: 68 cm / 2' 2 3/4'' Depth of the corner side: 136 cm / 4' 5 1/2'' SH: 43 cm / 17'' Provenance: Fredrik Anderzon who was the manager of the brewery Nässjö Bryggeri commissioned a modernist summerhouse in 1936 and this sofa formed part of the interior. Literature: A high back chair that matches this model, Christian Björk, Thomas Ekström...
Upholstery, Velvet
Pair of Lovö Chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The beautiful Lovö Chair is an exceptionally treasured vintage find. Designed in the 1930s by Axel Einar Hjorth as part of his ‘Sportstugemöbler’ (weekend cottage or lodge furniture) collection for Nordiska Kompaniet, the models in the beloved Lovö series are regarded by many as Axel Einar Hjorth's masterpieces. Crafted for the weekend cottages that were gaining popularity in Sweden at the time, each series is lovingly named after a Swedish island. Crafted from solid stained pine, their rich cherry tone exudes a timeless appeal. The green and blue floral vintage cushions...
Pine
$2,707
H 27.56 in W 30.12 in D 21.26 in
Swedish pine lounge chair in the manner of Axel Einar Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Uppsala, SE
Stained pine lounge chair in the manner of Axel Einar Hjorth, made in Sweden in the 1930s. Seat and back cushion with original striped fabric with yellow and grey tones. The back cushion are held in place by two linnen webbing stripes. This type of pine furniture became very popular during the 1930s and 1940s and were specifically designed for Swedish summer houses that increased in popularity during this period. They are often reffered to as "Sportstugemöbler" in Sweden and were popularised by Swedish design superstar Axel Einar Hjorth. In the south of Europe they are often called Chalet furniture...
Fabric, Pine
$2,800
H 18.51 in W 22.45 in D 14.97 in
Swedish modern Leather and elm stool "Katie" by Axel-Einar Hjorth, NK 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hägersten, SE
Stool model "Katie" attributed to Axel Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, NK during the 1930s. Solid elm legs with upholstery in leather with brass nail details and tufted...
Brass
Sold
H 44.1 in W 27.56 in D 33.86 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Pine Armchair for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Utrecht, NL
Swedish architect and furniture maker Axel Einar Hjorth worked as the lead designer for Sweden’s Nordiska Kompaniet department store from 1926 to 1938. While combining the simple, ho...
Bouclé, Pine
Swedish Art Deco Axel E Hjorth Chair, Birch 1937
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Uccle, BE
Dimensions for this chair are H 90 x 64 x 52cm. Seat Height 47cm. Arm Height 66cm. The actual upholstery is 44 x 44 cm. The upholstery is original and needs to be reupholstered prope...
Birch
Sold
H 35.44 in W 25.01 in D 24.41 in
Armchair ‘Bridge’ Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nk, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Armchair ‘Bridge’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden, 1930s. The model was first exhibited at NK's spring exhibition in 1931 and at Ängby-villan in 1932. Our version, pictured above, was crafted using lacquered...
Upholstery, Birch, Lacquer
Sold
H 34.65 in W 24.81 in D 38.98 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Rocking Chair in Solid Pine Produced in Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare rocking chair model "Lovö" in solid stained pine designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm during the 1930s. In good vintage and original con...
Fabric, Pine
Sold
H 38.19 in W 21.66 in D 20.48 in
Steel Armchair "Stål" by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Striking lounge chair by Axel Einar Hjorth, designed in 1930. Strict, sleek form made in steel, with upholstered seat, wooden armrests and green lacquered back detail. Literature:...
Steel
Axel Einar Hjorth Pair of "Lovö" Armchairs, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Utrecht, NL
This iconic set of armchairs was designed by Axel Einar Hjorth in the 1930s and belong to his Lovö series. Combining both straight lines with round curves, these armchairs ensure an ...
Pine
Sold
H 35.83 in W 25.2 in D 22.45 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Lovö Armchair for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare armchair is part of the 'Lovö' series designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for the high-end Stockholm-based Nordiska Kompaniet department store in 1932. The chair is executed in s...
Fabric, Wool, Wood, Pine
Sold
H 31.11 in W 26.38 in D 31.89 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Rare "Lovö" Lounge Chair, Pine, White Fabric, NK, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in High Point, NC
A rare "Lovö" lounge chair designed by Axel Einar Hjorth. Produced by Swedish up-scale retailer Nordiska Kompaniet, the firm for which Axel Einar Hjorth served as head-designer of fu...
Fabric, Pine
Pair Of Formal Chairs By Axel Einar Hjort For Nordiska Kompaniet
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautifully Restored Classic Pair Of Chairs With Silvered Bronze Arms. Elegant And Simple In Their Design. Deep Red Cotton Velvet With Complete Restoration To Entire Chairs. Metal T...
Pair Art Deco Chairs in Zebra Velvet by Axel Einar Hjort for NK
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Atlanta, GA
Perhaps the most outstanding chairs we have ever had! This pair of mahogany and flame birch carved Art Deco chairs hail from c. 1929 Sweden and were designed by the Godfather of Swedish Art Deco Design - the famed designer Axel Einar Hjort - for the grand Stockholm department store Nordiska Kompaniet (NK). Newly restored and reupholstered in Jim Thompson Silk...
Mahogany, Upholstery