“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.
Magazine ‘Zink’ shelf by Jonas Bohlin for Källemo, Sweden 1984
By Källemo, Jonas Bohlin
Located in Antwerp, BE
A striking example of Swedish postmodern design, this magazine ‘Zink’ shelf by Jonas Bohlin for Källemo blends industrial edge with sculptural elegance. Designed in 1984 and made out...
Concrete, Metal
Cabinet “National Geographic” by Mats Theselius, Källemo, Sweden, 2015
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Striking display cabinet from Mats Theselius’s celebrated “National Geographic” series, produced by Källemo to mark the 25th anniversary of the design. The tall, vitrine form is wrap...
Brass
$8,092 / item
National Geographic Bookcase
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Glass doors, stained in yellow, brass details. Base of solid natural beech. Suitable for storing The National Geographic Magazine. Each se...
Brass
Midcentury Modern Cabinet by Eugen Höglund, Sweden, 1940s
By Eugen Höglund
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elegant cabinet by Eugen Höglund, with elaborate decor on the doors and rounded sculpted legs. Made from mahogany with relief decor in a lighter nuance. The decor depicts animals, a ...
Mahogany
Swedish Designer, Wall Shelf, Pine, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine wall shelf or cabinet designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1960s. Currently missing wall mounting brackets. Will require professional installation.
Pine
Swedish Designer, Cabinet, Birch, Burl, Brass, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A birch, burl wood, wood inlay and brass cabinet designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1930s. Minor chipped veneer on bottom edge of top left door. Wear consistent with age and use. ...
Brass
$7,198 / set
H 29.93 in W 89.77 in D 11.03 in
Mogens Koch Bookcases Set of Three Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch set of three bookcases in Oregon pine. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/NØRREBROGADE/KØBENHAVN.
Pine
Danish Modern Teak Bookcase, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Teak Bookcase, 1960s. Danish Mid-Century Modern bookcase and cabinet in teak. Manufactured in Denmark in the 1960s. In the style of Carlo Jensen/Hundevad/Børge Mogensen...
Teak
$3,800
H 67.5 in W 94.25 in D 17.5 in
Mid Century Swedish Shelf by Bertil Fridhagen for Bodafors 1950/60's
By Bertil Fridhagen, Bodafors
Located in New York, NY
Mid Century Scandinavian Modern wall unit, shelves, desk, designed by Bertil Fridhagen for Bodafors, circa 1950/60's. This piece features three bays, one with a glass fronted sliding door case...
Glass, Teak
Parade Wall Shelf, by Morten & Jonas from Warm Nordic
By Morten & Jonas
Located in Viby J, DK
Elegant metal shelving unit with plenty of space for all your favourite possessions. Parade is perfect for putting your belongings on display with the shelving unit serving as a beautiful frame. It comes either as a complete shelving unit or as an extended version with extra shelves, inspired by 1960s-style wooden shelves or luggage racks on trains, with the same lightweight idiom and functionality. This means that Parade can be used in an infinite number of ways: from the stylish storage of teapot, cups and plates in the kitchen to the display of books, pretty vases...
Steel
$283 / item
H 3.94 in W 40.16 in D 12.6 in
Parade Single Wall Shelf, by Morten & Jonas from Warm Nordic
By Morten & Jonas
Located in Viby J, DK
Elegant metal shelving unit with plenty of space for all your favourite possessions. Parade is perfect for putting your belongings on display with the shelving unit serving as a beau...
Steel
$4,106
H 74.41 in W 39.18 in D 15.36 in
Swedish Cabinet 'Ståndskåp' from Hälsingland, Sweden, late 1800s
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Cabinet 'Ståndskåp' from Hälsingland, Sweden, late 1800s Years of sun, wear, and neglect have transformed it into what it is today – a beautiful Swedish blue painted cabinet...
Pine
1940's Swedish Cabinet
By Erik Mattsson 1
Located in Turners Falls, MA
1940’s Swedish Cabinet. Decorative inlay. 2 doors conceal adjustable shelves and 2 drawers. 2 lower drawers with scalloped fronts. Key included.
Beech
Chinoiserie Breakfront China Cabinet Bookcase Union National
By Union National
Located in Bradenton, FL
Large Scale Union National Chinoiserie Breakfront China Cabinet Bookcase. Hand-painted and signed by artist. Union National was a prestigious high-end furniture company in Jamestown,...
Brass
Otto Schulz Cabinet Produced by Boet in Sweden
By Otto Schulz
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare cabinet designed by Otto Schulz. Produced by Boet in Sweden.
Brass
Sold
H 61.42 in W 45.28 in D 18.31 in
Mid-Century Oak Cabinet by Gunnar Myrstrand for Källemo, Sweden, 1960s
By Gunnar Myrstrand, Källemo
Located in Karis, Nyland
A cabinet in oak Gunnar Myrstrand for Källemo. Made in the 1960s in Sweden. The double doors are slightly bent. Behind there are shelves and inner drawers. Brass door pulls. Overal...
Brass
"Solitär" teak cabinet by John Kandell, Källemo, Sweden, 1981
By Källemo
Located in Hägersten, SE
Cabinet model "Solitär" designed by John Kandell. Produced in Sweden by Källemo. Designed in 1981, this example ca 1980s. Made from solid rough cut mahogany. The wooden latch on top ...
Brass
Jonas Bohlin 'Zink' shelves for Källemo, Sweden, late 20th century
By Källemo, Jonas Bohlin
Located in London, GB
An angular zigzag bookshelf by Swedish designer Jonas Bohlin (1953-). In 1981 Bohlin began studying constructional engineering in Stockholm, where he started to challenge the idea of...
Concrete, Metal
Sold
H 80.32 in W 7.88 in D 9.06 in
Scandinavian Pilaster Oak Bookshelf by John Kandell for Källemo, 1989
By Källemo
Located in Prague, New Town
Scandinavian Pilaster oak bookshelf, designed by John Kandell for Källemo in Sweden, 1989. The shelf features the original designer's stamp. ...
Oak
Sold
H 17.3 in W 19.6 in D 19.6 in
Gunnar Mystrand Rosewood Barcube on Wheels from Källemo, Sweden, 1960s
By Källemo, Gunnar Myrstrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gunnar Mystrand Rosewood Barcube on Wheels from Källemo, Sweden, 1960s Vintage - Rare rosewood bar cube on wheels, designed by Gunnar Mystrand Källemo. Swe...
Rosewood
Cubical Bar Cabinet by Sven Engström & Gunnar Myrstrand
By Sven Engström & Gunnar Myrstrand, Källemo
Located in Stockholm, SE
Amazing cubical bar cabinet on wheels by Sven Engström and Gunnar Myrstrand. Made from rosewood with the upper part lacquered red. Inside with compartments, removable tray.
Rosewood
Midcentury Gunnar Myrstrand Bar Cube Table
By Sven Engström & Gunnar Myrstrand, Källemo, Gunnar Myrstrand
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration is this wonderful bar cube that can also be used as a side table or even a small coffee table. Featuring teak wood with a black lacquer...
Brass
Swedish 1960s Oak Cabinet by Gunnar Myrstrand
By Gunnar Myrstrand, Källemo
Located in Hägersten, SE
Rare oak cabinet designed by Gunnar Myrstrand in the 1960s. Produced in Sweden by Källemo. With solid brass handles. Adjustable shelves. Slightly curved front. Signed. Good vintage ...
Brass