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.
Bruno Mathsson Shelf Model MI 1050, Sweden, 1960s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wall shelf model MI 1050 designed by Bruno Mathsson during the 1960s, produced by Bruno Mathsson International, Sweden. Very good vintage condition.
Birch
$4,725Sale Price|20% Off
Bruno Mathsson reading stand, Karl Mathsson 40's Sweden modernist collector
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Forest, BE
Table de lecture en bois et acier nickelé. Daté du début des années 1940. La tablette en bois a été restaurée mais la patine du piétement reste non touché et dans son état le plus proche de l'origine. Ajustable en hauteu. Il y à de beaux détails en laiton. Produite dans les ateliers de son père Karl Mathsson...
Steel, Nickel
Bruno Mathsson 'Anita' Shelving System, 1970s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lacquered steel, birch and beech wood. Measures: height 250 cm Depth 34 cm. Width 145.5 cm.
Steel
Bruno Mathsson wall shelf, Sweden, 1970s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wall shelf model designed by Bruno Mathsson during the 1970s, produced by Bruno Mathsson International, Sweden. Very good vintage condition.
Steel
Bruno Mathsson wall shelf, Sweden, 1970s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wall shelf model designed by Bruno Mathsson during the 1970s, produced by Bruno Mathsson International, Sweden. Very good vintage condition.
Steel
Bruno Mathsson Bookcase Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare bookcase designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden.
Steel
Bruno Mathsson Wall-Mounted Bookcase by Karl Mathsson in Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare wall-mounted bookcase designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden.
Birch, Pine
Shelf 'Book crib' model T-709 Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Bruno Mathsson’s “Book crib” model T-709 is a refined example of Scandinavian vintage design where function and sculpture are perfectly aligne...
Birch
Magazine table Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
This rare Bruno Mathsson magazine table for Firma Karl Mathsson in Värnamo is a thoughtful expression of Swedish design and Scandinavian vintage design at its most architectural. Des...
Birch
Bruno Mathsson Wall-Mounted Bookcase by Bruno Mathsson International in Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Wall-mounted bookcase designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Bruno Mathsson International in Sweden.
Beech
Shelf ‘Book crib’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, 1961
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Shelf ‘Book crib’ model T-709 designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1961. Frame in elm, legs in laminated beech. Stamped. H: 25.5 cm / 10" L: 50 cm / 19 3/4'...
Beech, Elm
Bruno Mathsson Book Crib in Elm by Firma Karl Mathsson, 1976
By Firma Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Odense, DK
Book crib designed by Bruno Mathsson in 1941. This example made by original manufacturer Firma Karl Mathsson in 1976. Made from solid elm and bent wood beech in the legs. Subtle join...
Elm
$15,359
Ultra Rare Wall Secretary
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Munich, DE
Designed by Bruno Mathsson in 1938 and made by Karl Mathsson. There is a common version in birch. This one is in masur birch! Located in hamburg.
Original Bruno Mathsson Book Cradle for Karl Mathsson ( 1st Production Example )
By Bruno Mathsson, Karl Mathsson
Located in Chicago, IL
Original Bruno Mathsson Book Cradle for Karl Mathsson 1st Production Label still attached. Handwritten Date of '41 in pencil on top of Label. Des...
Birch
Swedish Designer, Wall Shelf, Pine, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine wall shelf or cabinet designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1960s. Currently missing wall mounting brackets. Will require professional installation.
Pine
"Swedish Grace" Period Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Grace was the inspiration for this lovely birch secretary which makes working from home a joy! Three locking drawers sit beneath a generous drop-front with 6 interior drawers, a pair...
Birch
$7,700
H 52 in W 48 in D 20 in
19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan
By Karl Johan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...
Metal, Brass
Rare pine bookcase by Carl Malmsten, Sweden, 1950s
By Carl Malmsten
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Rare pine bookcase designed by Carl Malmsten. Produced in Sweden during the 1950s. A beautiful piece of so called Swedish sports cabin furniture.
Pine
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction consisting of two aluminium E Tracks, four shelves and one container with up and over d...
Aluminum
Asymmetric Wall Shelf, France, 1960s/70s
By Pierre Chapo, José Zanine Caldas
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Unique asymmetric wall shelf, France, 1960s/70s. In original condition. One shelf has a hole (see photos). Fast shipping worldwide.
Wood
$2,250
H 24 in W 53 in D 12 in
Stunning Danish oak bookcase shelf Øresund Børge Mogensen Karl Andersson & Söner
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning Danish bookcase shelf Øresund by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner. Beautiful white oak 4 section bookcase by Børge Mogensen. Has 2 Adjustable shelves with corner wa...
Oak
Architectural Italian Wall-Mounted Shelving System
Located in North Miami, FL
Rare Industrial Italian wall-mounted library or shelving system that is completely customize-able to your design needs. A long shelving unit fitted with seven powder coated metal posts...
Metal, Brass
Tomado modular shelving system Teak 1950s Holland
By Tomado, Adriaan Dekker
Located in Den Haag, NL
Tomado wall shelf from the 50s, it is made up of 2 black metal uprights dyed in the mass and stamped + 3 teak wood shelves with fixings included. The whole is in very good condition ...
Teak
Solid teak wall shelf, 1960s Germany.
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Solid teak wall shelf, 1960s Germany. C-shaped shelf made from solid teak. The wood has a beautiful grain. The style is similar to the famous wall shelf by Walter Wirz for Wilhelm Re...
Teak
Poul Cadovius Royal Cado Shelving System, Teak & Glass, 1968
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cado Royal System 3 bay Unit. Includes 3 cabinets and 8 shelves. Unit comes with Four 78" tall brackets that mount to the wall. Endless possibilities in the way you hang this very...
Brass
Swedish Secretary with Marquetry
Located in New York, NY
A masterpiece of symmetry, the cantilevered sides of the body meet the rectangular working surface, creating a setback for the upper writing surface. Crafted of Nordic birch and fir,...
Birch
Sold
H 31.5 in W 78.75 in D 13.78 in
Birch and pine wall shelf by Bruno Mathsson. Firma Karl Mathsson, sweden 1964
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Hägersten, SE
Wall mounted shelf designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced in Sweden by Firma Karl Mathsson in 1964. Consisting of steam bent birch consoles, shelf in solid pine and bookshelf made from...
Metal
Private listing: Bruno Mathsson bookcase
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare bookcase designed by Bruno Mathsson Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden Lacquered teel, birch and pine 1950s Mid century, Scandinavian Dimensions (W x D x H): 250 x 37 ...
Metal
Sold
H 10.04 in W 19.69 in D 10.63 in
Book crib by Bruno Mathsson, Karl Mathsson, Sweden 1941, elm no.2
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Hägersten, SE
Book crib designed by Bruno Mathsson in 1941. Very early example made by Firma Karl Mathsson the first year. Made from solid elm and bent wood beech in the legs. Small brass screw de...
Beech, Elm
Bruno Mathsson, book cart, Dux, 1980s
By Bruno Mathsson, Dux of Sweden
Located in Uppsala, SE
Book cart / book crib (bokvagga in Swedish) in beech designed by Bruno Mathsson for Swedish company DUX. Designed in 1941 but this example is produced in...
Beech
Sold
H 10.04 in W 19.69 in D 10.63 in
Book case "Bokvagga/Book crib" by Bruno Mathsson , Sweden 1941, elm and beech
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Hägersten, SE
Book crib designed by bruno Mathsson in 1941. This example made by Firma Karl Mathsson in 1964. Made from solid elm and bent wood beech in the legs. Very good vintage condition with ...
Beech, Elm
Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden, 1960s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Sleek sideboard, model “MI-806” by Bruno Mathsson. Made from silver birch with a beautiful natural pattern, smooth steel doors and feet. Movable shelves and compartments inside. Beau...
Steel
Sold
H 83.08 in W 27.56 in D 11.82 in
Shelving Systems Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Mathsson International
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Shelving systems designed by Bruno Mathsson for Mathsson International, Sweden, 1960s. Pine and lacquered wood. Measu...
Wood, Pine, Lacquer
Sold
H 92.92 in W 78.75 in D 15.75 in
Shelving system designed by Bruno Mathsson for Mathsson International, 1960s.
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Shelving system designed by Bruno Mathsson for Mathsson International, Sweden, 1960s. Beech and lacquered steel. Dimension...
Steel
Bruno Mathsson Freestanding Sideboard in Birch, 1960s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Prague, New Town
Rare Scandinavian freestanding sideboard model MI 806 designed by Bruno Mathsson in Sweden, 1960s. This freestanding sideboard is made out of t...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 51.19 in W 35.83 in D 17.72 in
Custom order: Kurt Østervig cabinet and "Eva" lounge chair by Bruno Mathsson
By Kurt Østervig, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Cool oak cabinet by Kurt Østervig, in a neat size and with a timeless look. Strict lines, decor of embossed stripes on the fronts. Very nice leather strap handles with decorative whi...
Leather, Beech, Oak
Sold
H 19.69 in W 27.56 in D 3.55 in
Early Wall Secretary with Paper Label in Birch by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Goteborg, SE
Extremely rare piece by Bruno Mathsson. This wall secretary was composed as early as 1936 and this example was made in 1939. This is well documented on ...
Birch
Sold
H 10.24 in W 19.69 in D 11.03 in
Book Cradle Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1941
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Birch. Measures: H 26 cm/ 10 1/4" W 50 cm/ 19 11/16" D 28 cm/ 11 1/32".
Birch