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.
Circa 1940 Eva Easy Chair By Bruno Mathsson For Karl Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Norwich, GB
An Eva easy chair by Swedish architect and designer Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson. Circa 1940. Labelled. The chair is made from laminated birch plywood and solid birch. It has t...
Jute, Birch, Bentwood
$1,838Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 30.32 in D 23.63 in
Modern wood Eva Chair by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, 1977
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in MIlano, IT
Eva chair by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, 1977 Eva chair with armrests in birch wood with curved structure and seat with woven fabric. Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firm...
Fabric, Wood
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, and signed underneath, Sweden, circa 1960s.
Upholstery, Beech
The 'Eva' Lounge Chair by Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Antwerpen, BE
The Eva Chair, designed by renowned Swedish architect and designer Bruno Mathsson in the 1930s, is a masterclass in functional elegance. Crafted from solid birch or beech wood, its f...
Canvas, Birch
Bruno Mathsson "Eva" Lounge Chair by Karl Mathsson, 1970s
By Ivan Schlechter, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Odense, DK
Vintage "Eva" lounge chair by Bruno Mathsson made by Karl Mathsson in 1974. The beechwood and hemp webbings has a nice patina and the chair comes with a leather cover hand sewn by Iv...
Hemp, Beech, Leather
$17,681
H 32.68 in W 59.06 in D 20.08 in
Bruno Mathsson Lounge Chair Model 36 Produced by Karl Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare early lounge chair model 36 designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden.
Birch
$2,946
H 33.86 in W 19.3 in D 24.81 in
Bruno Mathsson Early Eva Easy Chair by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Early easy chair model Eva designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden.
Hemp, Birch
Bruno Mathsson Eva Reading Chair
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Riverdale, NY
Bruno Mathsson reading chair, originally designed in 1934 in laminated beech bent wood with linen webbing. This later version has original webbing and is...
Bentwood
Eva Lounge Chair by Bruno Mathsson in Leather circa 1940s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Oakland, CA
1940s Eva lounge chair by architect Bruno Mathsson with early labeling and redone in a rich earth tone leather. Originally designed in the 1930s this is a 1940s production piece and ...
Leather, Beech
$2,946
H 33.08 in W 19.3 in D 26.78 in
Bruno Mathsson Early Eva Easy Chair by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Early easy chair model Eva designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden.
Hemp, Birch
Early Era Eva Chair by Bruno Mathsson
By Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This lovely chair was designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson. Patinated beechwood frame and original natural fiber webbing. Linen head pillow with leather trimmings has so...
Beech
$5,304
H 43.31 in W 23.63 in D 28.75 in
Armchair ‘Eva High’ Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1960
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Armchair ‘Eva High’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1960. Birch framing, braided leather upholstery and a textile neck pillow. Stampe...
Leather, Textile, Birch
Bruno Mathsson "Eva" Bentwood Armchair
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is the iconic Bruno Mathsson EVA chair. The chair has bentwood arms and a scoop shape. The chair is made of beechwood.
Bentwood
Sold
H 32 in W 23 in D 24 in
Pair of Bruno Mathsson "Eva" Chairs in Cognac Original Leather, Sweden, 1970s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare pair of "Eva" easy chairs in beech and original cognac leather designed by Bruno Mathsson and produced by Firma Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden 1973. Signed and dated on the re...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 38 in W 22 in D 30 in
Pair of Bruno Mathsson for Dux Danish 'Jetson' Beige Bucket Swivel Lounge Chairs
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Swedish Mid-Century 'Jetson' lounge chairs with bucket shaped seats with leather trim and a beige quilted center upholstered strip with matching mounted head...
Chrome
Sold
H 33.86 in W 23.23 in D 23.63 in
Pair of Armchairs ‘Eva’ Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of armchairs ‘Eva’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden. 1968. Leather and birch. Stamped. With its characteristically curved legs and armrests, this iconic chair model "Eva" exemplifies Swedish functionalism. Our pair was manufactured in 1968 but the design is from 1941. The comfortable seat is composed of beautifully patinated plaited leather straps in cognac — "Eva" in leather was only introduced in the 1960s. While the design aesthetic is delicate, both chairs are very well-made and sturdy because of the strong plywood. Bruno Mathsson’s love for nature pervades all his designs — he frequently slept outside in the forest or his garden on a specially designed foldable bed. His furniture shapes, particularly the legs, bring bull's horns or insects to mind. Mathsson was one of the most important Swedish designers of the 20th century. He was a contemporary of Alvar Aalto and Marcel Breuer, all of whom had already experimented with bent plywood during the 1930s. Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson's father, was the fifth generation in a family of master cabinet makers. He owned a furniture manufacturing company that produced the earlier pieces; later, they founded "Mathsson International". The stamp indicates the manufacturing date and, sometimes, the design date. Bruno Mathsson often gave his furniture Swedish woman...
Leather, Birch
Pair of "Eva" Chairs by Bruno Mathsson for DUX
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of "Eva" arm chairs by Bruno Mathsson for DUX. These have been signed on the rear frame. Both chairs are in good vintage condition and they have been lightly refinished and cl...
Cotton, Teak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 23.63 in D 27.56 in
Pair of "Eva" Chairs by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1967
By Firma Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of cool and comfy “Eva” lounge chairs, made from bentwood beech and wreathed black leather. Amazing silhouettes, beautifully aged leather.
Leather, Beech
Pair of "Eva" Lounge Chairs by Bruno Mathsson for DUX
By Bruno Mathsson, Dux of Sweden
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of lovely “Eva” lounge chairs by Bruno Mathsson, with leather seats on beech bentwood frames. Beautifully patinated natural colored leather.
Beech, Leather
Pair of Eva Chairs by Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pair of Eva chairs by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden, 1970s. Laminated and steam-bent beech, canvas webbing, in great condition. Branded manufactu...
Canvas, Beech
"EVA" Sofa in Birch & Webbing by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden, 1969
By Firma Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Two-seat “EVA” sofa designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Firma Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden, dated 1969. Lacquered birch and beech with later linen webbing.
Linen, Beech, Birch
Sold
H 33.47 in W 18.12 in D 17.33 in
Set of Eight "Mimat" Side Chairs Designed by Bruno Mathsson, 1960s
By Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of eight side chairs in beech with original hemp webbing. Designed by Bruno Mathsson and made by Karl Mathsson, in 1965. Great original condition Bruno Mathsson was born to ca...
Beech
Armchairs 'Eva' by Bruno Mathsson for DUX
By Dux of Sweden, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful 'Eva' armchairs by Bruno Mathsson for DUX, designed in 1941, produced circa 1981 in birch bentwood with hemp webbing, marked.
Hemp, Bentwood
Sold
H 31.11 in W 23.63 in D 27.17 in
Pair of ‘Eva’ Lounge Chairs by Bruno Mathsson and Produced by DUX, Sweden 1960s
By Dux of Sweden, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pair of ‘Eva’ lounge chairs designed by Bruno Mathsson and produced by DUX, Sweden 1960s. These chairs features a beech frame and woven seats and backs. Visible wear on the seating a...
Beech
Modern Set of Six Bruno Mathsson Dining Chairs with Rope Seats
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Houston, TX
Gorgeous set of six rope seat dining chairs featuring two arm chairs and four armless made in Sweden. The frames are in great shape but they nee...
Wood