Today, Swedish manufacturer DUX’s most popular furniture lines — as well as the furnishings created by its first president, Folke Ohlsson — are synonymous with the work that vintage mid-century modern design obsessives love. Also important, the brand is known for some of the most commonplace means of furniture shipping and production in the modern era.
In Sweden, Studio Ljungs Industrier AB is the large family-owned parent company of Duxiana (in America, DUX). Initially a purveyor of bedding that is today celebrated for its ergonomically guided designs, Ljungs Industrier was founded by entrepreneur (and chocolate maker) Efraim Ljung in 1926. In 1950, Folke Ohlsson, then leading Ljungs Industrier’s design team, decamped to the States to explore how he could expand DUX’s business, which at that point included a wide range of furniture. Ohlsson established a DUX office not long after he arrived in California, first in San Francisco and later in Burlingame.
On the West Coast, the booming postwar American market was eager to embrace DUX’s affordable and practical bedroom furnishings, tables, armchairs and other seating. Characterized by sleek walnut and teak frames and low-slung silhouettes, the brand’s designs were emblematic of a generation of Scandinavian modernism that had gained popularity owing to visionaries such as product designer and architect Greta Magnusson-Grossman, who arrived in California from Sweden a decade prior to Ohlsson, and Finn Juhl, who created a Danish modern line for Michigan’s Baker Furniture Company in 1951.
DUX frequently collaborated with top-tier furniture design talent — among them Bruno Mathsson, Edward Wormley and Alf Svensson, a chief designer in the Malmö, Sweden, office of Ljungs Industrier — expanding the brand’s portfolio and establishing credibility as a design source. Ohlsson’s own designs, such as his comfortable leather lounges and wool-upholstered reclining rocking chairs, continue to be among the brand’s most desirable — and most imitated — however.
In 1949, DUX put into practice an idea that Ohlsson patented for the so-called “knock-down,” or “KD,” chair, a term referencing easy, flat-pack assembly. It saved DUX space in warehouses and money on transportation and was a concept that would provide inspiration to hundreds of subsequent companies — most notably fellow Swedish brand IKEA.
Today, vintage DUX sofas and dining chairs are valuable collector’s items. Find this coveted seating and other authentic DUX furniture on 1stDibs.
Flowers Embroidery DUX "Playboy" Sofa 1970s Unique Fabric, Sweden
By Milo Baughman, Dux of Sweden
Located in Forest, BE
Sectional sofa with thick Flowers embroidery fabric made in Sweden in the 70's. The foot are Mae of hardwood. There's 3 elements, a double seater + a three seater and a corner. The o...
Fabric, Hardwood
Beige chenille sectional sofa, 3 pieces, 1970s
Located in Manzano, IT
Beige chenille sectional sofa, 3 pieces, 1970s More information on the article Plywood frame, polyurethane seat and fabric Measurements mod.1 - H48 x W190 x D120 Measurements mod.2 -...
Chenille
Rino Maturi, Large Sectional Sofa, Fabric, Italy, 1970s
By Mimo Padova
Located in High Point, NC
A large blue fabric modular sectional sofa designed by Rino Maturi and produced by MIMO Padova, Italy, c. 1970s. Seat height 16” Dimensions variable. All items ship from High Poin...
Fabric
Giorgio Montani Sofa Corner For Souplina 1970s
By Giorgio Montani
Located in Montréal, QC
Attributed. Giorgio Montani Corner For Souplina , C.1970 Overall good vintage condition. Patina on metal. We suggest a new reupholstery.
Metal
Monumental Adrian Pearsall Sectional Sofa for Craft, 1970s
By Craft, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Hamburg, PA
A monumental Adrian Pearsall sectional sofa for Craft. This sectional sofa can be arranged in multiple configurations, as shown in the images...
Upholstery
Luciano Frigerio, Sectional Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Italy, 1970s
By Luciano Frigerio
Located in High Point, NC
A sectional dark-stained wood and off-white fabric sofa produced by Luciano Frigerio, Italy, c. 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 27.5"H x 107.88"W x 85.25"D Seat Height (inches)...
Fabric, Wood
$7,500Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 29 in W 160 in D 34 in
1970s Milo Baughman Modular Sectional, Set of 5
By Milo Baughman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning modular sectional you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the b...
Upholstery, Wood
1970s Sectional Sofa by Laauser
Located in Brecht, BE
Designed by Laauser, this 1970s comfy sectional sofa has a big corner 86 x 163 cm wide x 75 cm high a big corner 86 x 163 cm wide x 75 cm high a sma...
Velvet
Missoni modular sofa, 1970s, set of 2
By Missoni
Located in Manzano, IT
Missoni Style Corner Sofa - Italy, 1970s Charming vintage corner sofa from the 1970s, upholstered in fabric with typical Missoni-style zig-zag pattern, featuring an elegant and comf...
Fabric, Wood
$29,700
H 29.53 in W 96.46 in D 94.49 in
Wiener Werkstätten 1970s Modular Organic Sofa in Colorful Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wiener Werkstätten, modular sofa, fabric, plastic, Austria, 1970s This modular sofa by Wiener Werkstätten captures something of the freedom and optimism of the 1970s. Its low, gener...
Fabric, Plastic
1970s Ralph Lauren Country Style Plaid LShaped Down Sectional Sofa
By Milo Baughman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, two pieces, Lshaped sectional and you could hope to find. In the style of Ralph Lauren. Outstanding design is exhibited through...
Upholstery, Wood, Down
1970s Modular Sofa With Chaise by Weiman/Preview
By Weiman Preview Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
1970s Sofa with Chaise Lounge by Weiman/Preview. Original upholstery. Measures 30” tall 86” long 66” deep a chaise, seat height 16” seat depth 21.5” seat depth chaise 53”
Upholstery
American Designer, Sectional Sofa, Rattan, Fabric, USA, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A rattan and floral-printed fabric sectional or modular sofa designed and produced in the US, c. 1970s. Some distress to fabric, ideally recovered. Wear consistent with age and use....
Fabric, Rattan
Sold
H 25.6 in W 118.12 in D 92.92 in
Jungle Embroidery DUX "Playboy" Sofa 1970s Unique Fabric, Sweden
By Dux of Sweden, Milo Baughman
Located in Forest, BE
Sectional sofa with thick Jungle embroidery fabric made in Sweden in the 70's. The foot are Mae of hardwood. There's 3 elements, a double seater + a three seater and a corner. The original fabric is still on it and in remarkable condition. Very light traces of use. In light green tones and beige. We have a similar set to reupholstery. Just ask. _____________________________________________________________ Aujourd'hui, les lignes de meubles les plus populaires du fabricant suédois DUX- ainsi que les meubles créés par son premier président, Folke Ohlsson - sont synonymes du travail que les obsessionnels du design moderne vintage du milieu du siècle aiment. Autre élément important, la marque est connue pour certains des moyens d'expédition et de production de meubles les plus courants de l'ère moderne. En Suède, Studio Ljungs Industrier AB est la grande société mère familiale de Duxiana (en Amérique, DUX). Initialement fournisseur de literie, aujourd'hui célèbre pour ses conceptions ergonomiques, Ljungs Industrier a été fondé par l'entrepreneur (et chocolatier) Efraim Ljung en 1926. En 1950, Folke Ohlsson, qui dirigeait alors l'équipe de conception de Ljungs Industrier, s'est rendu aux États-Unis pour étudier comment il pourrait développer l'activité de DUX, qui comprenait alors une large gamme de meubles. Peu après son arrivée en Californie, M. Ohlsson a ouvert un bureau DUX, d'abord à San Francisco, puis à Burlingame. Sur la côte ouest, le marché américain d'après-guerre en plein essor était impatient d'adopter les meubles de chambre à coucher abordables et pratiques de DUX, les tables, les fauteuils et autres sièges. Caractérisés par des cadres élégants en noyer et en teck et des silhouettes basses, les modèles de la marque étaient emblématiques d'une génération de modernisme scandinave qui avait gagné en popularité grâce à des visionnaires tels que la conceptrice de produits et architecte Greta Magnusson-Grossman, arrivée de Suède en Californie dix ans avant Ohlsson, et Finn Juhl, qui a créé une ligne moderne danoise pour la société Baker Furniture Company du Michigan en 1951. DUX a fréquemment collaboré avec des designers de meubles de premier plan, parmi lesquels Bruno Mathsson, Edward Wormley et Alf Svensson, un designer en chef du bureau de Ljungs Industrier à Malmö, en Suède, élargissant ainsi le portefeuille de la marque et établissant sa crédibilité en tant que source de design. Les créations de M. Ohlsson, comme ses confortables salons en cuir et ses rocking-chairs inclinables tapissés de laine, continuent toutefois de figurer parmi les produits les plus recherchés - et les plus imités - de la marque. En 1949, DUX a mis en pratique une idée que Ohlsson a brevetée pour la chaise dite « knock-down » ou « KD », un terme faisant référence à un assemblage facile et à plat. Il a permis à DUX d'économiser de l'espace dans les entrepôts et de l'argent en matière de transport. Ce concept a inspiré des centaines d'entreprises par la suite, notamment la marque suédoise IKEA. Aujourd'hui, les canapés vintage DUX et les chaises de salle à manger...
Fabric, Hardwood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 28.35 in D 28.35 in
Set of three Lounge Chairs in Beech by Alf Svensson for DUX, Sweden, 1952
By Dux of Sweden, Alf Svensson
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Set of three lounge chairs in beech and dark green velvet by Alf Svensson for DUX in very good condition. These Scandinavian chairs can be p...
Velvet, Beech