“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.
$8,029 / item
National Geographic Bookcase
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
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
$7,142 / set
H 29.93 in W 89.77 in D 11.03 in
Mogens Koch Bookcases Set of Three Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
By Mogens Koch, Rud Rasmussen
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
Bodafors Scandinavian oak bookcase
By Bodafors, Bertil Fridhagen
Located in Brescia, IT
Vintage two-body oak bookcase with sliding doors, olive green shelves and three built-in central drawers. Two-piece bookcase by Bodafors and designed by Bertil Fridhagen, made in Sw...
Wood
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
Peter Hvidt & Orla Molegaard Bookcases
By Hvidt & Mølgaard
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of Peter Hvidt & Olga Molegaard design bookcases, Denmark. Made from high quality materials and construction techniques, featuring adjustable shelves on plinth bases. Box tail j...
Teak
Vintage Bamboo Bookcase
Located in Brescia, IT
Cabinet with three shelves made of Scandinavian-made Bamboo. Minimalist and natural design furniture complement. The bamboo frame adds an exotic and organic touch to the environment...
Bamboo
Bamboo and rattan bookcase, 1960s
Located in Brescia, IT
1960s bamboo and rattan bookcase: double door storage base and riser with exposed shelves, diamond woven sides. 1960s bookcase made of bamboo cane and woven rattan: storage base wit...
Bamboo, Rattan
Bookcase
Located in London, England
Two door glazed walnut bookcase / cabinet with ormolu mounts on turned feet. Circa 1870 H 112cm x W 121cm x D 37cm
Walnut
Scandinavian vintage oak bookcase cabinet
Located in Brescia, IT
1960s bookcase with exposed shelves, drawers, and storage compartment. Linear structure and light proportions typical of Nordic design. Scandinavian 1960s bookcase made of light oak...
Oak
Scandinavian Oak Bookcase
Located in Brescia, IT
Bookcase with shelving and cabinet, 1950s/60s. Original vintage cabinet from Scandinavia consisting of two parts. The upper part is a bookcase equipped with adjustable height shelvi...
Oak
Scandinavian vintage oak bookcase cabinet
Located in Brescia, IT
1960s bookcase with exposed shelves, drawers, and storage compartment. Linear structure and light proportions typical of Nordic design. Scandinavian 1960s bookcase made of light oak...
Oak
Grabinski's 1960s oak bookcase
Located in Brescia, IT
Scandinavian oak bookcase designed by Grabinski in the 1960s with display case, drawers, and hinged door. Scandinavian bookcase designed by Henry Walter Grabinski in the 1960s and m...
Wood
Scandinavian 1950s solid pine bookcase
Located in Brescia, IT
Solid pine bookcase with five adjustable shelves and solid side support structure. Scandinavian production, mid-20th century. Scandinavian bookcase from the mid-twentieth century ma...
Pine