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 Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen Super-Ellipse White Dining Table
By Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein, Fritz Hansen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bruno Mathsson and Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen, 'Super-Ellipse' extendable dining table or conference table, laminated wood, chrome-plated steel, aluminum, Denmark, design 1968 This...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
$8,800Sale Price|20% Off
Bruno Mathsson 'Maria' Drop-Leaf Folding Table in Walnut, Sweden, c 1950s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully crafted and refinished 'Maria' drop-leaf / gateleg dining table by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden, circa 1950s to 1960s, executed in richly figured walnut with an elegant warm ...
Walnut
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Gate Leg Maria Dining Table Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Folding rosewood Maria banket gate leg dining table by Bruno Mathsson. Fully extended measures 110" long.
Rosewood
$8,000
H 29 in W 110 in D 35 in
Mid century Drop Leaf Extension Maria 2-12 Dining Table Teak by Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson, Karl Mathsson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Swedish Modern authentic “Maria” folding extension dining table designed by Bruno Mathsson and Manufactured by Karl Mathsson. Table is Teak wood top and ash edges and bas...
Brass
$1,754
H 27.56 in W 47.25 in D 70.87 in
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Ellipse Dining Table, Black Lacquer, 1960s
By Piet Hein, Fritz Hansen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson ellipse dining table new laquererd black. Legs in chromed steel. Made by Fritz Hansen.
Chrome
$2,339
H 27.96 in W 47.25 in D 94.49 in
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Elipse Dining Table, White Lacquer, 1992
By Fritz Hansen, Piet Hein
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Elipse dining table white lacquered. Legs in chromed steel. Made by Fritz Hansen. New lacquered by professional...
Chrome
$1,754
H 28.35 in W 47.25 in D 70.87 in
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Elipse Dining Table, White Lacquered, 1960s
By Fritz Hansen, Piet Hein
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Elipse dining table white lacquered. Legs in chromed steel. Made by Fritz Hansen. New lacquered by professional...
Chrome
Danish Mid Century Modern, Round Dining Table in Solid Pine, 1970s
By Rainer Daumiller
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful example of Scandinavian craftsmanship, this classic round dining table was made by a Danish cabinetmaker in the 1970s. Constructed in solid pine, the table showcases clea...
Pine
$4,667 / set
H 18.71 in W 21.46 in D 29.53 in
Scandinavian modern coffee tables 'Annika' by Bruno Mathsson, Sweden, 1950s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Beautiful set of coffee tables or nesting tables designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, Sweden, during the 1950s. Elegant design. Curly birch top with beautiful cond...
Beech, Birch
$3,451Sale Price|58% Off
H 29.14 in W 35.44 in D 9.85 in
Maria Flap Folding Dining Table by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl Mathsson
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
Introducing the Maria Flap table, a timeless creation by the esteemed designer Bruno Mathsson and expertly manufactured by Firma Karl Mathsson. This e...
Wood, Birch
$1,754
H 28.75 in W 59.06 in D 39.38 in
Superellipse Table by Bruno Mathsson and Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen
By Fritz Hansen, Piet Hein
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage superellipse dining table designed by Bruno Mathsson and Piet Hein in the 1960s for Fritz Hansen. The table has been produced eversince. This one is dated 2007. Fine and e...
Beech
Hans Olsen Danish Rosewood Dining Table
By Hans Olsen
Located in Pasadena, TX
Danish rosewood round dining table Attributed to Hans Olsen this round table measures 47.25? in diameter and has a rich rosewood grain.
Rosewood
$12,500
H 28.5 in W 110 in D 43.25 in
Danish Bruno Mathsson Gateleg "Maria Flap" Dining Table in Teak, Denmark c 1965
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully designed and engineered original extendible dining table by Bruno Mathsson. Made in Denmark. Measurements: Completely extended: 110" width 43" depth 28.5" height Exte...
Teak
$760
H 25.6 in W 59.06 in D 35.83 in
Superellipse Table by Bruno Mathsson and Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen
By Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein, Fritz Hansen
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
Introducing the collaborative masterpiece by Bruno Mathsson and Piet Hein: the Scandinavian Modern Superelips Dining Table. Manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark, it boasts an attr...
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table in Bamboo & Brass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive dining table, circa 1950's. The table top is in a race track oval form and wrapped in nailed pencil reed. The top has an inlayed brass plate and the bass is pa...
Brass, Bronze
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson 'Superellipse' Large Table in Teak
By Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Piet Hein and Bruno Mathsson for Fritz Hansen, 'Superellipse' conference or dining table, teak, chrome-plated steel, Denmark, design 1968, produced 1980 ...
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 28.25 in W 110.25 in D 37.5 in
Bruno Mathsson 'Maria' Drop-Leaf Folding Table, Teak & Birch, Sweden, c 1950s
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully refinished example of the iconic Bruno Mathsson 'Maria' folding table for Firma Karl Mathsson, Sweden. Designed in 1936 and produced through the mid-20th century, the M...
Teak, Birch
Sold
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 47.25 in
Piet Hein Super Ellipse Table of Teak Veneer by Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1979
By Fritz Hansen, Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish modern large super ellipse table designed by Piet Hein (1905-1996) and Bruno Mathsson with table top with new oil treated teak veneer. O...
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 47.25 in
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson Super Ellipse Table Extension of Oiled Mahogany, 1993
By Fritz Hansen, Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish modern Piet Hein (1905-1996) and Bruno Mathsson (1907-1988) huge super Ellipse table made of mahogany with oil treatment and 2 leaves for ex...
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 28.35 in W 47.25 in D 118.12 in
Danish Rosewood Super Ellipse Table by Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen
By Fritz Hansen, Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A beautiful rosewood "Super Elipse" dining table by Piet Hein and Bruno Mathsson for Fritz Hansen. At up to three meters in length, this table comfortably seats up to fourteen peo...
Chrome
1960s, 'Superelipse' Dining Table by Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson
By Fritz Hansen, Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful "Super-Elipse" dining table. This table is designed by Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson for Fritz Hansen. Made in Denmark. The tabletop is made of birchwood with beautiful chr...
Chrome
Sold
H 28.25 in W 110 in D 35.5 in
Bruno Mathsson "Maria" Expandable Modern Brazilian Rosewood Dining Table
By Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson
Located in Washington, DC
Fantastic dining table by Bruno Mathsson in the hard to find Brazilian rosewood. Incredible design allows for table to be reduced to just 9.5 inches wide and then unfolded into vario...
Brass
Teak Expandable Bruno Mathsson Maria Dining Table
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century "Maria" dining table designed by Bruno Mathsson. This clever design includes a drop leaf feature with a foldable gate leg base making this a versatile table for many occa...
Teak
Sleek Versatile "Maria" Extending Dining Table by Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian designed "Maria" gate leg expandable teak and beech dining table or conference table by Bruno Mathsson. Unbelievably ingenious design that allows tabl...
Teak
Piet Hein Bruno Mathsson Super Ellips Conference Table
By Fritz Hansen, Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic long conference table. Rare piece in this size, only made upon request. Nice white formica in contrast with the aluminium edge and chr...
Chrome
Fold-Out Table by Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Fold-out table by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson. Model: Maria. Design 1935. Teak. Nice refinished condition.
Teak
Piet Hein & Bruno Mathsson 158" inch super Ellips table 1968
By Bruno Mathsson, Piet Hein
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic long conference table designed by Piet Hein and Bruno Mathsson for Fritz Hansen, Denmark 1968. This is for an exceptionnal model of 400 cm long and was made in 1980. This r...
Wood