“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.
"Keflavik" Sculptural Sofa by Sigurdur Gustafsson for Källemo AB, 2000s
By Källemo
Located in Rīga, LV
"Keflavik" sofa by Sigurdur Gustafsson for Källemo AB, 2000s. Signed and numbered 6/99. Solid mahogany, dark blue leather upholstery, black/blue steel back. An architectural central piece...
Metal
$9,950
H 24 in W 58.5 in D 36.5 in
Gold Goop Brutalist Loveseat Sofa by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Paul Evans, Craft Associates
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This Adrian Pearsall loveseat is a stunning fusion of mid-century modernism and sculptural bravado. Constructed in the 1970s for Craft Associates, its standout feature is a dramatic ...
Resin, Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 59.5 in D 32 in
Leather Box Style Loveseat Sofa by Charles Pfister for Knoll
By Knoll, Charles Pfister
Located in New York, NY
Chic, sophisticated, and voguish loveseat sofa, designed by Charles Pfister for Knoll. This example was executed in grayish blue leather, it is in good, original condition, showing l...
Leather
$12,800
H 30.25 in W 92 in D 42 in
Vladimir Kagan Zoe Sofa for American Leather in Curly Teddy Bear Camel Fabric
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Everyone needs a teddy bear and yours can be this chic Vladimir Kagan Zoe sofa newly upholstered in soft curly camel teddy bear fabric. Modern. In your face ...
Upholstery
Italian Modern Curved Sculptural Loveseat or Sofa
By ISA Bergamo, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Federico Munari, Ico Parisi
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern curved sculptural loveseat or sofa. This stunning Italian Federico Munari inspired postmodern sofa, chaise or loveseat has interesti...
Stainless Steel
"Le Stelle" Loveseat Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By Knoll, Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Le Stelle" loveseat sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, circa 1970s. Newly reupholstered in white Knoll boucle, the sofa features angled arm rests and Bellini's signatu...
Bouclé
$4,985
H 25.6 in W 63 in D 37.41 in
Sacco Sofa by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, Franco Teodoro for Zanotta, Italy
By Mario Bellini, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare two-seat Sacco Sofa by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, Franco Teodoro for Zanotta, Italy. Newly upholstered in pure Alpaca wool fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Fabric
$11,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.78 in W 84.26 in D 31.5 in
Vintage Fuchsia Sofa by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous fabric sofa designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for the fine manufacturer Azucena Italia. The vintage sofa is made of brown, fuchsia and purple striped fabric, which creates a very colorful geometric effect. The lines are very hard and geometric, wonderfully eccentric. The frame is made of anodized aluminum, shiny silver, which connects to the spectacularly beautiful square, hollowed out feet. The cushions also act as square armrests, very colorful. The sofa comes from the Rome home of Luigi Caccia Dominioni. The colored sofa are ideal for furnishing eccentric and colorful living rooms.
Metal
$11,250Sale Price|50% Off
H 37 in W 58 in D 34 in
1980s Zanaboni Silk Velvet Leopard Tiger Sculptural Curved Sofa
By Zanaboni
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
In 1967, in the Italian town of Honey began to operate the factory, named by the founder Vittorio Zanaboni "Zanaboni Salotti Classici, Classic furniture by Zanaboni". So far this bra...
Textile, Satin, Silk, Velvet
$5,996Sale Price|25% Off
H 30.25 in W 82 in D 36 in
Rosewood Tulip Sofa by K.M. Wilkins for G-Plan, Mid-Century Modern
By Thonet, Percival Lafer, G Plan Furniture, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This extraordinary three-seater G-Plan sofa, conceived by K.M. Wilkins for the celebrated “Tulip Group,” is a rare rosewood rendition of an otherwise teak-centric line—and its presen...
Velvet, Rosewood, Upholstery
$13,600Sale Price|24% Off
H 32 in W 77.5 in D 29 in
Buffalo Leather Sofa by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll, c. 1988, Signed
By Knoll, Robert and Trix Haussmann
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This phenomenal buffalo leather three-seat sofa is by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll International (designed in 1988) and signed with Knoll decking fabric and Knoll Made in Ital...
Aluminum
Saturno Sofa by Gastone Rinaldi for RIMA, Italy
By Gastone Rinaldi
Located in Seattle, WA
Designed in 1958, the Saturno Sofa was one of the most iconic designs by Gastone Rinaldi, a prominent figure in Italian design alongside Gio Ponti, Ettore...
Steel
Italian 1950s 'Perla' Sofa by Giulia Veronesi for ISA Bergamo
By ISA Bergamo
Located in London, Charterhouse Square
Beautifully shaped 1950s Italian 'Perla' sofa designed by Giulia Veronesi for ISA Bergamo, reupholstered in Thurstan mohair velvet.
Mohair