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Mats Theselius

Swedish, b. 1956

Although prolific Swedish architect and designer Mats Theselius moves freely between creating furniture, lighting, objects, installations, exhibitions, set designs, and more, he is perhaps best known for his innovative armchairs. Described by critics as “surprising and ingenious,” Theselius is responsible for some of the most noteworthy furniture designs of the 1980s and 1990s.

Born in 1956 in Stockholm, Theselius attended the city’s prestigious Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts and Design), where he studied Interior Architecture. After graduating in 1984, he worked at various architecture firms in Stockholm.

In 1985, Theselius debuted a cylindrical club chair upholstered with elk leather. The chair’s unique, molded curved frame, which served as a backrest and armrests, became a signature design characteristic of many of Theselius’s seating pieces. He partnered with entrepreneur Sven Lundh, and Lundh’s company, Källemo, produced a limited-edition variation of this seat, the Älgskinns­fåtöljen chair, in 1991. The Iron/Suede lounge chair followed in 1994.

Another iconic Theselius piece is the National Geographic bookcase. Made of beech with glass doors and brass detailing, the bookcase features shelves sized to accommodate 25 years' worth of National Geographic magazines. For its debut in 1988, Theselius painted the bookcase the same recognizable yellow color that typically frames the cover of the publication.

While working on furniture design and other projects, Theselius served as a professor at the HDK – Academy of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg from 1995 to 1996. He has also collaborated with several well-known Swedish and European manufacturers in addition to Källemo, including String, Marrakech Design, Minus-tio and David Design.

Throughout his career, Theselius’s works have garnered critical acclaim and won numerous awards. Among them are the Red Dot Design Award, the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize, the Wallpaper Design Award and the King of Sweden’s Prince Eugen Medal (2018). Theselius also received the Bruno Mathsson Award in 1997, which is named for the revered Swedish master cabinetmaker. Theselius is said to have created his coveted Bruno armchair immediately afterward.

Today, Theselius’s pieces can be found in the permanent collections of the National Museum in Stockholm, the State Russian Museum in Moscow and the Danish Museum of Art and Design in Copenhagen.

Find vintage Mats Theselius seating, case pieces, storage cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$15,565
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Mats Theselius 'Aluminium Chair' Edition 163/200 by Källemo, 1990s
By Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare chair produced by Källemo 1990 in a limited edition of 200 chairs, this is example is number 163. Original leather, wood, steel and aluminium.
Category

1990s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Steel

Aluminium Easy Chair
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mats Theselius designed the Aluminum armchair in 1990. Today it belongs to the real Swedish classics and is used extensively both in homes and in the public environment. Manufactured...
Category

2010s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Leather, Foam

  • Aluminium Easy Chair
  • Aluminium Easy Chair
  • Aluminium Easy Chair
  • Aluminium Easy Chair
H 27.56 in W 23.63 in D 24.41 in
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...
Category

2010s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Brass

  • National Geographic Bookcase
  • National Geographic Bookcase
  • National Geographic Bookcase
  • National Geographic Bookcase
H 67.33 in W 22.45 in D 8.67 in
Bruno Easy Chair
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Courbevoie, FR
The armchair Bruno was designed by Mats Theselius in 1997 and can be found at most Swedish embassies worldwide. Theselius is the author of several of the most notable Swedish furnitu...
Category

2010s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Leather, Foam

  • Bruno Easy Chair
  • Bruno Easy Chair
  • Bruno Easy Chair
  • Bruno Easy Chair
H 27.56 in W 22.05 in D 27.17 in
Mats Theselius 'Aluminium Chair' Edition 3-50/200 by Källemo, 1990
By Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare chair by Mats Theselius produced by Källemo 1990 in a limited edition of 50 chairs, this is example is number 3. Aluminum, beech, seat and back upholstered with braided bir...
Category

1990s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Steel

Mats Theselius folding screen / room divider produced by Källemo, 1990s
By Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare folding screen / room divider ‘Rörligt objekt’ by Mats Theselius, early 1990s. Aluminum with dot decoration in relief. Folds into four parts: 4 x 48 cm, height 188 cm.
Category

1990s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Steel, Aluminum

Mats Theselius armchair Källemo AB aluminium Beech and leather Sweden 1990
By Mats Theselius
Located in Paris, FR
Mats Theselius armchair aluminium, beech and dark green leather made in Sweden 1990 by Källemo AB. Good condition, normal wear and tears. more photos on demand. 1 pair available pri...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Aluminum

Mats Theselius IKEA PS Collection Nätön
By Mats Theselius
Located in Farsta, SE
Mats Theselius is arguably one of Swedens most influensal designers of his generation. And this was his first collaboration with IKEA PS Collection, Nätön. Mats Theselius rattan an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Mats Theselius

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

  • Mats Theselius IKEA PS Collection Nätön
  • Mats Theselius IKEA PS Collection Nätön
  • Mats Theselius IKEA PS Collection Nätön
  • Mats Theselius IKEA PS Collection Nätön
H 29.53 in W 22.05 in D 26.78 in
Browse all Furniture from Mats Theselius
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Mats Theselius furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Mats Theselius furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Mats Theselius furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 18 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 10 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Mats Theselius were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in scandinavia during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Källemo, O.H. Sjögren, and Carl-Axel Acking. Prices for Mats Theselius furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £4,011 and can go as high as £72,104, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £17,939.

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