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Bruno Mathsson

Swedish, 1907-1988

As the descendant of four generations of Swedish master cabinetmakers, Bruno Mathsson was born to design furniture. Mathsson was known as a methodical perfectionist who made usefulness the fundamental attribute of his iconic lounge chairs, tables, armchairs and other works, yet he was also a ceaseless experimenter, who constantly searched for improvements in form, materials and methods of design.

Like the Finnish designer Alvar Aalto, Mathsson was one of the first Scandinavians to embrace undulating, biomorphic forms in furniture. His early pieces such as the Eva and Pernilla series of chairs incorporate dramatically flowing bent beechwood frames, making them some of the most instantly recognizable works of 20th-century design.

Mathsson was also a pioneer of ergonomics — he is said to have based the contours of his chairs on the impression his body made when he sat in a snow bank — and used supple, accommodating woven webbing for seats. His concern for practicality is shown by pieces such as the Maria table. An elegant design with gate legs and hinged leaves, the table measures more than nine feet long when fully extended, but folds down to just nine inches in thickness.

From the mid-1940s through the 1950s, Mathsson focused on architecture, designing and building houses with insulated, triple-glazed window walls and heated floors — construction that flew in the face of traditional wood-clad Swedish residential design, and consequently met with some skepticism. He returned to furniture in the 1960s, employing an entirely new suite of materials: Stainless-steel framing and mesh seats feature in pieces like the Jetson chair; with the mathematician Piet Hein, Mathsson designed the Super-Elliptical table, which has a laminate top and four-part tubular steel legs that sprout like flower stems from a single base. 

Bruno Mathsson’s stylistic flexibility as a designer made him a creator whose pieces meet all tastes and needs.

Find vintage Bruno Mathsson dining tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$4,676
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Bruno Mathsson
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Bruno Mathsson Eva Chair
Bruno Mathsson Eva Chair
Bruno Mathsson Pernilla Chair
Bruno Mathsson Pernilla Chair
Pernilla Chaise Longue
Pernilla Chaise Longue
Bruno Mathsson Berlin Daybed
Bruno Mathsson Berlin Daybed
Pair of Pernilla Armchairs by Bruno Mathsson for Dux, 1969
By Dux of Sweden, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Pernilla armchairs designed in 1969 by Bruno Mathsson for Dux, Sweden. Curved beech wood structure with canvas, leather strips and original f...
Category

1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Canvas, Beech

Bruno Mathsson Eva Lounge Chair with Leather
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Bruno Mathsson Eva lounge chair with patinated saddle leather Frame in beech. Made by Karl Dux.
Category

1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Leather

Bruno Mathsson Eva Lounge Chair with Leather
Bruno Mathsson Eva Lounge Chair with Leather
H 33.08 in W 24.02 in D 27.56 in
'Berlin' Daybed in Birchwood by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden 1972
By Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Hellouw, NL
A rare Berlin daybed, designed by Bruno Mathsson in 1957, captures the essence of Scandinavian modernism. Introduced at the International Building Exhibition in Berlin, this model ex...
Category

1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Birch

Bruno Mathsson rare original 1936 burl wood birch coffee table collector mint
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Forest, BE
Table en loupe de bouleau complètement restaurée. Design de 1936 et produit en 1936 dans les ateliers de son père Karl Mathsson. Cette table est rare et est le plus grand format de l...
Category

1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Birch

Bruno Mathsson Jetson Lounge Chair with Black Leather
By Dux of Sweden, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Bruno Mathsson Jetson lounge chair with black leather. Frame in chromed steel. Made by DUX.
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Steel

Bruno Mathsson Jetson Lounge Chair with tan Leather
By Bruno Mathsson, Dux of Sweden
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Bruno Mathsson Jetson lounge chair with tan leather. Frame in chromed steel. Made by DUX.
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Steel

Bruno Mathsson rare original 1936 burl wood birch coffee table collector mint
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Forest, BE
Table en loupe de bouleau complètement restaurée. Design de 1936 et produit en 1942 dans les ateliers de son père Karl Mathsson. Cette table est rare. Elle apporte de la chaleur par ...
Category

1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Birch

Bruno Mathsson Danish Modern Bentwood Eva Lounge Chair
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Bentwood "Eva" Model Lounge Chair, designed by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden, circa 1960s. It was retailed by The Scandinavian Design Store in NYC, one of the first retail stores...
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson

Materials

Upholstery, Beech

Browse all Furniture from Bruno Mathsson
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Creators Similar to Bruno Mathsson

More Bruno Mathsson Designs
Bruno Mathsson Eva Chair
Bruno Mathsson Eva Chair
Average Price
$4,941
Number Available
23
Bruno Mathsson Eva Chair
By Bruno Mathsson
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Birch, Animal Skin, Beech, Hardwood, Leather
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
Shop All
Bruno Mathsson Pernilla Chair
Bruno Mathsson Pernilla Chair
Average Price
$6,485
Number Available
16
Bruno Mathsson Pernilla Chair
By Bruno Mathsson
Materials
Wood, Animal Skin, Beech, Fabric, Hardwood, Leather, Canvas
Styles
Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern
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Pernilla Chaise Longue
Pernilla Chaise Longue
Average Price
$10,470
Number Available
14
Pernilla Chaise Longue
By Bruno Mathsson
Materials
Wood, Birch
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
Shop All
Bruno Mathsson Berlin Daybed
Bruno Mathsson Berlin Daybed
Average Price
$8,580
Number Available
8
Bruno Mathsson Berlin Daybed
By Bruno Mathsson
Materials
Wood, Beech, Hardwood, Fabric
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
With its long mattress gently elevated on a molded wooden frame, the Berlin daybed created by Bruno Mathsson (1907–88) offers a simple space for relaxation and reveals the Swedish architect as a pioneer in ergonomic furniture design.While outwardly minimal, its four tapered legs with their sculptural details reflect Mathsson’s technical innovations in working with wood. The Berlin daybed — an update of the “lounge bed” he introduced at the 1937 Paris Exposition — debuted at the 1957 Internati...
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Bruno Mathsson furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Bruno Mathsson furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Bruno Mathsson furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Bruno Mathsson were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Arne Norell, Carl Malmsten, and Dux of Sweden. Prices for Bruno Mathsson furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $142 and can go as high as $37,426, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,502.

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