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.
Library / Console Table in Acid-Stained Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Library / Console Table in Acid-Stained Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1932 Additional Information: Material: Acid-stained pine Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Very rare library / cons...
Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth 'Skoga' Table in Pine Wood, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in The Hague, NL
This very rare table was designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden. It is part of the Skoga series, created by Hjorth in 1932. Crafted from solid pi...
Pine
Dining Table Värmdö in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1930's, Nordiska Kompaniet
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Dining Table in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1930's Additional Information: Material: Pine Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Very rare dining table model Värmdö Produced by Nordiska Ko...
Pine
Dining Table in Acid-Stained Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Dining Table in Acid-Stained Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1932 Additional Information: Material: Acid-stained pine Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Rare dining table model Lovö Produc...
Pine
'Utö' occasional table Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This sculptural pine table forms part of Axel Einar Hjorth’s celebrated “Utö” series, designed around 1932 for Nordiska Kompaniet. Named after the island of Utö in the Stockholm arch...
Pine
Triangular Coffee Table in Elm and Raw Glass Top by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1940's
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Coffee Table in Elm and Raw Glass Top by Axel Einar Hjorth, 1940's Additional Information: Material: Elm and raw glass top Style: Mid century, Scandinavian ...
Elm, Glass
$11,000 / item
1920s Swedish Grace Period Side Table
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in New York, NY
The fine oak rectangular top with rounded corners supported at each end by slender baluster shaped turnings joined by stretcher at base with brass clad feet and stretcher having orig...
Oak
Antique French Iron and Glass Top Coffee Table
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Maison Jansen style Antique French iron and glass top coffee table. This table measures: 54 wide x 33 deep x 18 inches high. This table is in good Vintage Condition with one br...
Iron
Pair of "Ängby" Bedside Tables by Axel Einar Hjorth
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of lovely bedside tables by Axel Einar Hjorth, model called “Ängby”. Swedish Modern lines with a touch of rococo. Made from wood, lacquered celadon green.
Wood, Lacquer
$113,653
H 29.14 in W 66.93 in D 21.66 in
Utö Library Table by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Hønefoss, 30
Rare and authentic Utö library table designed by Axel Einar Hjorth, manufactured by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932. Wear consistent with age and use, including surface scratches, m...
Pine
Swedish Table in Solid Pine
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Karlstad, SE
A charming and sturdy dining table, crafted in pine and manufactured in Sweden during the 1950s, possibly designed by Göran Malmvall for the esteem...
Pine
$2,800
H 29.53 in W 58.47 in D 35.44 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Dining Table in Birch, Swedish Grace, Bodafors, 1930s
By Bodafors, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Odense, DK
An extravagant Swedish Grace dining table from the early 20th century, crafted in dark birch veneer with finely carved details. The table features a richly decorated apron and legs w...
Birch
$22,132
H 24.81 in Dm 31.11 in
Wooden Lovö Side Table in Pine by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet 1940
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare wooden sculptural side occasional table in pine model "Lovö" by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm, 1940s. In good original condition. Stable. Dim...
Pine
Reclaimed Elm Coffee Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This artisan-crafted low table is a celebration of wabi-sabi style. Crafted of thick elmwood timbers reclaimed from Qing-dynasty architecture, the table has a minimalist waterfall de...
Reclaimed Wood
$77,762
H 18.9 in W 27.96 in D 22.05 in
An Authentic Utö table by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A rare and authentic version of the iconic Utö table designer Axel Einar Hjorth, manufactured by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1932. This particular Utö represents one of the rarer and...
Pine
$4,689Sale Price|31% Off
H 30.71 in W 74.41 in D 21.66 in
Axel Einar Hjorth manner Console / Library Table, solid Pine, Sweden 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Ystad, SE
Console / Library Table in the Manner of Axel Einar Hjorth, Sweden, 1930s A refined and minimalistic Swedish console or library table, executed in solid pine by a Swedish cabinetmak...
Pine
$2,751Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in W 51.19 in D 29.93 in
Dining table in solid pine in the style of Axel Einar Hjorth and Göran Malmvall
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Ystad, SE
Solid Pine Dining Table in the Style of Axel Einar Hjorth and Göran Malmvall, Sweden, 1940s A characterful dining table crafted in solid pine, executed in the distinctive rustic mod...
Pine
"Utö" Console Table, Axel Einar Hjorth, NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
“Utö” console table, made in pine by Axel Einar Hjorth. An iconic early modernist design. “Utö” is one of the series of furniture included in NK:s “Sporstugemöbler”, “sports cabin’s...
Pine
$44,840
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 23.63 in
Scandinavian Modern "Skoga" Dining Table, Axel Einar Hjorth, Nk, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Rustic “Skoga” dining table by Axel Einar Hjorth, made from pine. Chunky rounded lines.
Pine
Sold
H 24.61 in Dm 31.5 in
Axel Einar Hjorth 'Lovö' Occasional Table in Pine, Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in The Hague, NL
This occasional or side table was produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in the late 1930s. Made of solid pine, the round top is resting on three cleverly constructed legs that meet up in th...
Pine
Sold
H 28.35 in W 70.87 in D 29.34 in
Axel Einar Hjorth “Lovö” Pine Table for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Utrecht, NL
The models in the famous “Lovö” series are regarded by many as Swedish Modernist, Axel Einar Hjorth’s masterpieces. This pine table from the series designed ca 1932 is well-known for...
Pine
Swedish Modern Axel Einar Hjorth Coffee Table Elm Veneered Oak, 1930's
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Uccle, BE
This table is from the Birka series. The Swedish modernist Axel-Einar Hjorth was a architect and industrial designer and is best know for his modern reduced design. He contributed si...
Elm, Oak
Sold
H 30.32 in W 63 in D 30.71 in
Walnut and Birch Desk by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Odense, DK
Elegant rare freestanding desk in walnut and birch, designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. This fine vintage desik will complementary many interior styles. A ...
Birch, Walnut
Table by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, ca. 1930
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in New York, NY
Pine table, circa 1930. AXEL EINAR HJORTH (Swedish 1888-1959) Table, Nordiska Kompaniet, ca.1930 Pine 24 x 31 x 17.25 inches
Pine
Sold
H 18.9 in W 27.56 in D 21.66 in
Table "Uto" Occasional Table Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Table "Uto" in solid pine. Occasional table designed Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden. 1932.