“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.
"El Rey" Lounge Chair by Mats Theselius, Källemo AB, Sweden, 1999
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Very cool post-modernist lounge chair by Mats Theselius, modell called “El Rey”, made of solid brass, wooden seat covered with “crocodile” pattern and wrapped armrests in black leath...
Brass
$2,106
H 37.41 in W 27.56 in D 63 in
Midcentury Danish Modern Brown Leather Chaise Lounge Chair by Tord Björklund
By Tord Bjorklund
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
The "Skye" chaise lounge chair designed by Tord Björklund. It features a steel frame with soft brown leather after full professional renovation. Produced in Sweden in the 1980s/late ...
Steel
$4,682Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.56 in W 59.06 in D 23.63 in
Mid-Century Modern Soft Ergodynamic Daybed, Lounge Chair
Located in Antwerp, BE
An ergonomic Daybed, Chaise lounge exquisite texture, functional simplicity. The Chaise Lounge captures contemporary design with its ideal balance be...
Fabric, Bentwood
$34,500
H 28.75 in W 22.84 in D 25.6 in
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB Limited Edition 'Järn Mocca' Lounge Chair
By Mats Theselius
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, 'Järn/Mocca' lounge chair, suede, patinated iron, stained beech, Sweden, 1994 The distinct 'Järn/Mocca' lounge chair is created by the Swedish desig...
Iron
$29,700
H 30.44 in W 25.79 in D 22.25 in
Mats Theselius for Källemo Ab Limited Edition Lounge Chair 'El Dorado' in Brass
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, lounge chair 'El Dorado’, brass, birch, nubuck leather, Sweden, 2002 This distinct 'El Dorado’ lounge chair by Mats Theselius was designed in 2002 for...
Brass
$4,096 / item
H 37.41 in W 27.56 in D 63 in
Midcentury Danish Modern Brown Leather Chaise Lounge Chair by Tord Björklund
By Tord Bjorklund
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
The "Skye" chaise lounge chair designed by Tord Björklund. It features a steel frame with soft brown leather after full professional renovation. Produced in Sweden in the 1980s/late ...
Steel
$9,364
H 28.75 in W 23.63 in D 25.2 in
Mats Theselius Aluminium Lounge Chair by Källemo, Sweden, 1990s
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Ghent, BE
The Mats Theselius Aluminium Armchair is a beautiful example of innovative Swedish design, seamlessly combining sculptural form with functional comfort. Crafted in the 1990s by Källe...
Aluminum
Tufted Patinated Vintage Leather Chaise Lounge from Sweden, Daybed
Located in Stamford, CT
20th century patinated vintage leather chaise lounge or daybed from Sweden Unique form Chesterfield chaise lounge in original leather tu...
Leather, Wood
$15,400
H 28.75 in W 83.86 in D 21.66 in
Mats Theselius for Källemo Limited Edition Chaise Lounge in Black Leather
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, chaise longue, steel, leather, felt, Sweden, 1992 Limited edition daybed by Swedish designer Mats Theselius. The chaise lounge consists of a base in b...
Metal
$52,673
H 28.75 in W 22.84 in D 25.6 in
Mats Theselius Limited Edition Järn Mocca Lounge Chair by Källemo, Sweden, 1994
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Ghent, BE
Inspired by Stockholm’s Army Museum and the Swedish Royal Armoury, this sculptural yet functional lounge chair embodies Theselius’ signature style, defined by bold forms and inventiv...
Iron
$35,115
H 30.71 in W 25.6 in D 21.66 in
Mats Theselius 'Älgskinnsfåtöljen' Edition 52/360 by Källemo, 1990s
By Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare chair by Mats Theselius produced by Källemo 1990s in a limited edition of 360 chairs, this example is number 52.
Steel
1940s Chrome and Black Adjustable Lounge Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This chrome and black leather adjustable lounge chair from the US captures the essence of industrial design with its sleek, exposed chrome tube framework. The chair's black leather u...
Leather
'Canapé' by Mats Theselius 21/100, 1990s
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Limited edition of 100 produced, this is edition 21/100. Very good condition with small signs of usage.
Brass
Jonas Bohlin "Nonting" Daybed for Källemo
By Jonas Bohlin, Källemo
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