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.
Aluminium Sofa by Mats Theselius for Källemo, Sweden, 2010
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Sofa designed by Mats Theselius for Källemo, Sweden, 2010. A particularly rare model, seldom seen on the market. Constructed with an aluminium frame, black leather upholstered seat ...
Aluminum
$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
$50,111
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
Bruno Armchair by Mats Theselius
By Mats Theselius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bruno is designed by Mats Theselius for the brand Källemo. The molded seat is covered in riveted core leather from Tärnsjö, which has preserved the original structure of the leather,...
Copper, Steel
$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
Aluminium Armchair by Mats Theselius - Leather Seat
By Mats Theselius
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Aluminum is an armchair designed by Mats Theselius in 1990 and produced by Källemo. The armchair, as the name reveals, is made of aluminum and is available in either a polished or ma...
Aluminum
2025 Mats Theselius for Kallemo and NO-GA Aluminum Lounge Chair
By Mats Theselius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Aluminum Lounge Chair, originally designed by Mats Theselius for Kallemo in collaboration with NO-GA. This particular example was produced in Sweden in 2025. The chair is ...
Aluminum
$42,000
H 28.75 in W 23.23 in D 24.41 in
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.
Steel
$9,047
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
"El Rey" by Mats Theselius, 1999
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Stockholm, SE
Limited edition of 360 pcs produced 1999. This example is number 146. Brass frame. Seat and back in crocodile patterned prime leather. Leatherclothes-wound armrests.
Brass
$34,357
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
$31,433 / set
H 27.55 in W 23.62 in D 24.4 in
Mats Theselius - Pair of Armchairs for Källemo - Sweden - 1990
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Striking pair of armchairs designed by Mats Theselius and produced by Källemo in Sweden during the 1990s. Characterized by their architectural construction and sophisticated combinat...
Aluminum
$22,777
H 27.76 in W 21.66 in D 29.53 in
"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
Rare pair of "El Rey" by Mats Theselius, 1999
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brass frame, seat and back in crocodile patterned prime leather. Leatherclothes-wound armrests. Limited edition of 360 chairs produced in 1999. This is chair...
Brass
Rare pair of "El Rey" by Mats Theselius, 1999
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brass frame, seat and back in crocodile patterned prime leather. Leatherclothes-wound armrests. Limited edition of 360 chairs produced in 1999. Excellent condition.
Brass
Sold
H 28.75 in W 55.12 in D 24.81 in
Unique Mats Theselius Aluminum Leather Two Seater Sofa by Källemo Sweden, 1990s
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and special commissioned curved Swedish contemporary two seater sofa in chromed aluminum, dark brown leather with a matching arm...
Steel, Chrome