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.
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet 'Lovö' Sofa in Solid Pine and Wool
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 'Lovö' sofa, model '36290', solid pine, reupholstered in “Nestor” (wool, mohair, alpaca mix) by Pierre Frey, Sweden, design 1932, made 1939 ...
Wool, Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet 'Lovö' Sofa in Solid Pine and Wool
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 'Lovö' sofas, model '36290', solid pine, reupholstered in “Nestor” (wool, mohair, alpaca mix) by Pierre Frey, Sweden, design 1932, made 1930...
Wool, Pine
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
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
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
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. Model and model name recorded in the archives of Nord...
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, original cushions.
Pine
$41,714
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 Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
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
$31,677
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
$27,428 / 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 NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
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
$62,857 / 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
$80,000 / set
H 37.8 in W 18.71 in D 17.33 in
Really scarce variant of the Lovö chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Rarissime set de deux chaises Lovö par Axel Einar Hjorth pour Nordiska Kompaniet, commande spéciale pour un restaurant au Danemark, avec renfort en métal. photos in situ disponibles...
Iron
$32,000 / 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
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
$17,122
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
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
$5,714
H 31.5 in W 18.12 in D 17.33 in
Axel Einar Hjorth “Utö” Solid Pine Chair for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
An “Utö” chair designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, during the 1930s. Made from solid pine with a rich patina and visible wood grain. The chair features a s...
Pine
Sold
H 31.5 in W 82.68 in D 31.5 in
Lovö Sofa in Pine and Original Upholstery by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Lovö Sofa in Pine and Original Upholstery by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1932 Additional Information: Material: Pine and fabric Style: Scandinavian Modern, Functionalism Lovö Sofa Produced b...
Fabric, Pine
Sold
H 31.3 in W 55.91 in D 18.12 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Sofa Model Utö Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sofa model Utö designed by Axel Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden.
Fabric, Pine
Sold
H 30.71 in W 52.37 in D 17.13 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Pine Sofa "Utö", Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pine sofa, model "Utö", designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s.
Pine
Sold
H 30.71 in W 53.94 in D 17.72 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Sofa Model Utö by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare sofa model Utö designed by Axel Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden.
Pine