“An object shall stand the wear of the eye!” proclaimed Swedish entrepreneur Sven Lundh (1925–2015), who took over operations at revered furniture company Källemo in 1971. For decades, the innovative brand has accomplished just that with a range of original and unconventional pieces that draw on — and regularly push the boundaries of — Scandinavian modern and postmodern design.
Based in Vänamo in southern Sweden, Källemo was originally established in 1947 before it was taken over by Lundh in 1971. Lundh’s vision for Källemo was to evolve the company and to create sustainable furniture that would be both functional and wholly sculptural. The interest in creating forward-looking seating, case pieces, tables and more that are as much furniture as they are art deepened for Lundh during the 1980s, when Swedish designers began to explore the ideas that underpin postmodernism in their work.
Lundh sought to secure long-term partnerships with modernist and postmodernist Swedish and European artists and designers such as Jonas Bohlin, the creator of the scandalous Concrete chair, which caught Lundh’s attention at Konstfack’s student exhibition in 1982. Bohlin’s minimalist armchair, featuring an angular steel frame and concrete seat and headrest, was meant to be presented as a sculpture, but it fit Lundh’s idea of “artistic furniture.” Källemo produced the Concrete chair as a limited-edition series, and it became one of the company’s best known pieces.
Over the years, Källemo has collaborated with Gustav Persson — designer of Källemo’s Bank bench — Mats Theselius, John Vedel-Rieper, Jens Harald Quistgaard, Gunnar Myrstrand and numerous other artists and designers to create its unique collection of furniture. In 1996, Lundh’s son Erik and daughter Karin took the helm at Källemo, which remains a family-owned firm. Today Källemo pieces are held in permanent museum collections throughout Sweden and Europe.
Find Källemo seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets on 1stDibs.
$6,340 / item
Loggia Bench
By Källemo
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Table top and seat in Northern pine or Accoya. Base in cast iron. For indoor and outdoor use Price is for Northern pine. Accoya : + € 1300. Other woods and sizes offered on demand ...
Iron
Vintage Danish Oak Bench, 1960s.
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Oak Bench, 1960s. Mid-Century Brutalist bench in oak with original wool fabric. Made in Denmark in the 1960s in Henning Kjærnulf style....
Wool, Oak
$3,120 / item
H 18 in W 51.5 in D 16 in
Canva Bench, Walnut with Handwoven Natural Danish Cord, Occasional Bench
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Featuring woven paper cord, walnut, and modest tapers the Canva bench explores a love for material and craftsmanship welded with warm welcome. Constructed ...
Papercord, Wood, Walnut
$3,120 / item
H 18 in W 51.5 in D 16 in
Canva Bench, White Oak with Handwoven Danish Cord, Occasional Bench
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Featuring woven paper cord, sustainable lumber, and modest tapers, the Canva bench explores a love for material and craftsmanship welded with warm welcome....
Papercord, Wood, Walnut
Swedish long Bench 1870c
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish long Bench 1870c Made out of pine wood. Sold in as-is condition. Height: 42 cm/16.5 inch Depth: 27 cm/10.6 inch Widht: 132 cm/51.9 inch
Pine
Antique Limestone Bench - Old Stone Bench - Garden Bench
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old Limestone bench was hand carved in the mid 17th century and installed in a Large Italian countryside home along with several other benches and architectural elements. This piece has been well preserved throughout the years and was recently reclaimed by our team. The natural stone aging process that took place throughout the years is quite apparent all throughout this lovely architectural element, giving it such an amazing distressed texture and color undertone. Centuries of sun, soil, rain and exposure to the elements of nature have given this piece its real character and wonderful patina. This antique limestone bench...
Limestone
Scandinavian 1960s pine bench
Located in Brescia, IT
Scandinavian vintage 1960s pine bench with slatted surface and essential lines with an understated design typical of the Nordic style. Scandinavian 1960s bench made of solid pine, f...
Pine
Laurel Bench, Modern Walnut Bench with Sculpted Joinery
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Inspired by Danish simplicity and organic design, the laurel bench features sculpted legs, modest angles, and sturdy joinery. The bench is constructed fro...
Wood, Walnut
$2,980 / item
H 18 in W 16 in D 48 in
Papyri Bench, Occasional Woven Bench in Blackened Ash and Natural Danish Cord
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Featuring a mortice and tenon frame, custom doweling and a handwoven seat, the Papyri Bench is artisan-crafted from recyclable paper cord, and sustainably...
Papercord, Oak
$3,120 / item
H 18 in W 51.5 in D 16 in
Canva Bench, Walnut with Handwoven Black Danish Cord, Occasional Bench
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Featuring woven paper cord, walnut, and modest tapers, the Canva bench explores a love for material and craftsmanship welded with warm welcome. Constructed...
Papercord, Wood, Walnut
Antique Limestone Bench - Old Stone Bench - Garden Bench
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old Limestone bench was hand carved and installed in a Large Italian countryside home along with several other benches and architectural elements. This piece has been well preserved throughout the years and was recently reclaimed by our team. The natural stone aging process that took place throughout the years is quite apparent all throughout this lovely architectural element, giving it such an amazing distressed texture and color undertone. Centuries of sun, soil, rain and exposure to the elements of nature have given this piece its real character and wonderful patina. This antique limestone bench...
Limestone
Bench 01
By Bahraini Danish
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Bench 01 by the architectural trio Bahraini Danish is made with CNC-cut walnut. No screws for assembling this bench. All 4 pieces of wood fit together and creates a strong solid bench.
Walnut
Antique Limestone Bench - Old Stone Bench - Garden Bench
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old Limestone bench was hand carved in the mid 17th century and installed in a Large Italian countryside home along with several other benches and architectural elements. This piece has been well preserved throughout the years and was recently reclaimed by our team. The natural stone aging process that took place throughout the years is quite apparent all throughout this lovely architectural element, giving it such an amazing distressed texture and color undertone. Centuries of sun, soil, rain and exposure to the elements of nature have given this piece its real character and wonderful patina. This antique limestone bench...
Limestone
Sold
H 16.54 in W 47.25 in D 15.75 in
Scandinavian Benches in Teak by John Vedel-Rieper for Källemo, 1960s
By Källemo, John Vedel-Rieper
Located in Karlstad, SE
Pair of Scandinavian benches in Teak by John Vedel-Rieper for Källemo (Sweden), 1960s. Beautiful benches made of solid teak, creating a cross pattern. Very...
Teak
Jonas Bohlin "Nonting" Daybed for Källemo
By Källemo, Jonas Bohlin
Located in Long Island City, NY
A cantilevered daybed designed by the Swedish Jonas Bohlin for Källemo in 1987 and exhibited at Salon Art & Design in the same year, in the Grand Palais, Paris. Bohlin won the Georg ...
Steel