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.
Ängby Side Chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, Rattan & Wood, Sweden, 1932
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of lovely dining or side chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, model called “Ängby”. Swedish Modern lines with a touch of rococo. Made from wood, backs made with rattan, lacquered celado...
Wood, Lacquer
Axel Einar Hjort, Pair of "Utö" Chairs, Sweden, 1930s Scandinavian Modern
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Odense, DK
A rare and beautifully patinated pair of 1930s "Utö" acid-stained pine chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet Celebrated for their sculptural simplicity and honest use of...
Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth, 1920s Charles oak chairs for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Axel Einar Hjorth's 1920s "Charles" chairs for Nordiska Kompaniet exemplify early 20th century craftsmanship with a refined baroque style, perfectly balancing ornate detail and funct...
Cane, Oak
'Futurum' Side Chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, Black Lacquered Wood, 1928
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Black lacquered wood with woven leather. Measures: H 110 cm/ 3' 7 3/4" W 47.8 cm/ 18 3/4" D 44 cm/ 17 1/4" SH 44.7 cm/ 17 7/8" Literature Axel Einar Hjorth Möbelarkitekt, Bo...
Leather, Pine
$31,632
H 31.5 in W 18.12 in D 17.72 in
Set of Four "Utö" Pine Chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Set of four “Utö” dining chairs, made from pine in an elegant design balancing rustic and modernism. Solid wood, sturdy feel. Lovely woodgrain. “Utö” is one of the series of furnitu...
Pine
$37,100
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 20.08 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Chair for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1930s
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
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. During this time, Hjorth desig...
Iron
$27,357 / set
H 30.91 in W 21.26 in D 19.69 in
Set of four 'Birka' chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
A refined set of four dining chairs from the “Birka” series, designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet in the 1930s. Crafted in ash and beech, with elegantly curved backre...
Fabric, Ash, Beech
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
$48,000 / set
H 30.75 in W 21 in D 15.5 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet, Birch, Rare Birka Chairs, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stamford, CT
Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet, Swedish Mid-Century Modern, Birch, Rare "Birka" Chairs, Sweden, 1930s A rare and complete set of six “Birka” dining or side chairs designed by...
Fabric, Birch
$62,694 / set
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Swedish Wooden Lovö Armchairs in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
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
$31,917 / set
H 18.12 in Dm 15.75 in
Pair of Axel-Einar Hjorth "Skoga" stools / side tables by NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of Skoga pine stools / side tables designed by Axel-Einar Hjorth, 1930s. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet.
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, original cushions.
Pine
$37,046
H 33.47 in W 25.6 in D 82.68 in
Swedish Wooden "Skoga" Sofa in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth Produced by NK, 1930s
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare Swedish wooden sofa in pine by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. In good original condition signed and numbered by NK. Dimensions: H: 85 cm / 33.45...
Pine
Stools « UTÖ » by Axel Einar Hjorth
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Paire de tabourets dit UTÖ par Axel Einar Hjorth pour Nordiska Kompaniet, vers 1930
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
$17,098
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 Hjort Style Swedish Hand-Made Pine Rocking Chair
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish hand-made pine rocking chair in the style of Axel Einar Hjorts furniture. The rocking chair is in good vintage condition consistent with the age and has minor traces of use. ...
Pine
Pair of "Utö" Chairs by Axel-Einar Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of Utö/Uto pine chair by Axel-Einar Hjorth, Sweden, circa 1930s. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet.
Pine
$5,699
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 Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
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
Sold
H 31.5 in W 17.75 in D 17.75 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, "Utö" Side Chair, Pine, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in High Point, NC
A pine "Utö" side chair designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932.
Pine
Sold
H 37.75 in W 18.62 in D 21.25 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Set of “Lovö” Chairs, Pine, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in High Point, NC
A set of 4 pine “Lovö” chairs designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s.
Pine
Pair of "Lovö" side chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of elegant “Lovö” dining chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, made from pine. Beautiful design with clean lines and contrasting rustic wood.
Pine
Side Chair by Axel Einar Hjorth, Nk, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Elegant side chair by Axel Einar Hjorth, made from black lacquered wood with a rattan back. Black leather seat. Strict lines with curved details, beautiful contrast between dark and ...
Leather, Rattan, Birch
Sold
H 31.5 in W 17.92 in D 18.51 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, "Utö" Side Chair, Solid Pine NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in High Point, NC
A side chair by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. Stained solid pine. Other designers of the period include Kaare Klint, Charlotte Perriand, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Pine
Sold
H 33.47 in W 18.31 in D 16.15 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Pair of "Sandhamn" Side Chairs, Pine, Wrought Iron, 1931
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of side chairs by Swedish architect and designer, Axel Einar Hjorth, produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in the early 1930s. Named "Sandhamn", after the island in the Stockholm arc...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 37.6 in W 18.51 in D 19.3 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Set of Six "Lovö" Dining Chairs, Pine, Cast Iron, Fabric, 1932
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in High Point, NC
A set of six Lovö dining chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth, produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in the early 1930:s. Executed in pine and fortified by cast iro...
Iron
Sold
H 30.71 in W 18.12 in D 16.74 in
Pair of Side Chairs “Margareta” Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of side chairs “Margareta” designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden, 1935. Lacquered steel, wood and horse hair. Measures: H 78 cm/ 2' 7 1/4'' D 42.5 cm/ 1' 5 1/4'' ...
Steel