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.
Traddis Console Table by Axel Einar Hjorth, Swedish Modern, 1931
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Neat console table by Axel Einar Hjorth, model called “Traddis”. Swedish Modern lines with a touch of rococo. Made from wood, lacquered celadon green with cream white decor.
Wood, Lacquer
$17,900 / set
Axel Einar Hjorth "Skoga" Stools
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of oiled pine stools designed by Axel Einnar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, model "Skoga". Sweden, circa 1930th. Wear consistent with age and use, some trace of repair. Read...
Pine
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
Axel Einar Hjorth "Skoga" Pine Wood Stool by Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare early mid century "Skoga / Utö" wooden stool in stained pine by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm 1932. In good original and stable condition. Dimensi...
Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth "Skoga" Pine Wood Stool by Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare early Swedish mid century "Skoga / Utö" wooden stool in stained pine by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm 1932. In good original. Dimensions: H: 45 cm...
Pine
$41,695 / set
Stools « UTÖ » by Axel Einar Hjorth
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
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
$5,956
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
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
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
Axel Einar Hjorth, "Wärmdö" Sofa, Pine, Shearling, Sweden, 1937
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
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, original cushions.
Pine
$5,956
H 31.5 in W 18.12 in D 17.33 in
Single Swedish Wooden "Utö" Dining Chair in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare Swedish single wooden "Utö" dining / office chair in pine by Axe Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm, 1930s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H: 80 cm...
Pine
$26,207
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
$33,058
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 Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
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
$41,695 / set
H 32.29 in W 20.48 in D 24.41 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Lovö Rocking Chairs in Pine Wood by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
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
$8,041
H 31.3 in W 18.12 in D 17.72 in
Swedish "Utö" Pine Chair by Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Single beautiful “Utö” dining chair, made from pine in an elegant design balancing rustic and modernism. Solid wood, sturdy feel. Lovely woodgrain. “Utö” is one of the series of fur...
Pine
$4,950
H 31.5 in W 18.9 in D 18.31 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Utö" Chair for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Utrecht, NL
Swedish architect and furniture designer Axel Einar Hjorth served as the lead designer for Sweden’s Nordiska Kompaniet department store from 1926 to 1938. During this time, Hjorth designed the “Sportstugemöbler” series (which translates to “sports cabin furnishings”), a collection of wooden furniture designed for country homes. The various models in the sportstugemöbler series took their names from the Stockholm archipelago – including Blidö, Lovö, and famously, Utö. The ‘Utö’ chair...
Wood
Axel Einar Hjort 'Uto Stool' in Pine for NK, Sweden
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Stool 'UTO', in pine, by Axel Einar Hjort for Nordiksa Kompaniet, Sweden 1929-1932. Early Uto stool in Northern European Pine by Axel Ejnar Hjort. This st...
Pine
Sold
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 18.31 in W 20.48 in D 14.77 in
Swedish Grace Stool "Åbo" by Axel Einar Hjorth, NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Elegant stool by Axel Einar Hjorth, model called “Åbo”. Made from painted wood with gilded decor. Seat upholstered with horsehair fabric.
Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in Dm 15.75 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Utö" Stool in Pine for Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare stool in solid pine by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm, 1930s. This stool comes from the original owner family and could have been lowered at some time in ...
Pine
Swedish Stool in Pine, Model "Utö" by Axel Einar Hjorth
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Karlstad, SE
Swedish stool model "Utö" designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), 1930s. Condition: The legs on this stool were broken and lost and have therefore been replaced w...
Pine
K.J. Petterson Palle stool Storvreta, Sweden 1970
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic brutalist 'Palle' stool designed by Karl Julius Petterson & Söner and manufactured by Storvreta, Sweden 1970. The stool is made of solid pine wood, several parts glued tog...
Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth Stool Model Utö by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare stool model Utö designed by Axel Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden.
Pine
Sold
H 14 in W 23.75 in D 14 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Uto Stools Black Stained Laminated Pine, Sweden, circa 1930
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of rare Axel Einar Hjorth pine Uto stools. Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, circa 1930. Stained black, unusual pair in the black. Part of the Sports mobler...
Pine
Pair of UTO Stools by Axel Einar Hjorth
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful early pair of UTO stood by Axel Einar Hjorth in original finish. Made from Northern European Pine. Part of the Sportsmobler series by Hjorth in the 1930s. Axel Einar Hjo...
Wood
Axel Einar Hjorth Pine Stool Utö for NK 1930's, Swedish
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stool Utö from Nordiska Kompaniet NK designed by Axel Einar Hjorth in the 1930's. Height: 17.9 in / 45,5 cm, Diameter 15.7 in / 40 cm. Literature C Björk, T Ekström, E Ericson,...
Pine