Vatne Møbler Seating
Norwegian furniture manufacturer Vatne Møbler has a rich legacy underscored by visionary collaborations with iconic Norwegian furniture designers. The company’s mid-century modern and Scandinavian modern lounge chairs and armchairs are known for their quality leather upholstery that acquires a beautiful patina over time.
Vatne Møbler was established in 1946 by Knut Sæter in the village of Vatne, Norway. Sæter was an interior architect who studied at the Bergen School of Arts and Crafts. He designed and manufactured the company’s first pieces. In 1955, interior architect Gerhard Berg started working for Vatne Møbler. His designs — particularly for sofas — soon became popular.
Later in the 1950s, furniture designer Fredrik A. Kayser began creating pieces for Vatne Møbler. His furniture earned the company international acclaim. In 1960, Kayser’s 711 chair for Vatne Møbler won first place at an Industry Council chair competition.
After Kayser died in 1968, the company was overseen by interior designer Sigurd Resell. Resell’s most enduring contribution to Vatne Møbler was the 1970 Falcon armchair. The comfortable, leather-upholstered, X-framed chair came in second place at an Industry Council chair competition. In the 1970s, Resell designed a series of striking glass-topped Falcon coffee tables.
Vatne Møbler’s success lasted through the 1980s, a decade which included a collaboration with furniture designer Olav Eldøy. In 1989, the company encountered financial problems and was sold to Norwegian manufacturer Stokke AS.
In 2002, Knut Sæter’s son, Per Arne Sæter, reopened the family business by relaunching Kayser’s classic designs along with a new collection. Production shut down in 2008 due to the financial crisis, but started again in 2010.
In 2015, the grandson of Knut Sæter, Amund Sæter, published Møbeleventyret Vatne: Boken om Vatne Møbler 1946-1989, a book about the early history of Vatne Møbler. The company continues to operate the Vatne Møbler As store in Norway.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Vatne Møbler seating and tables.
1970s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Rosewood, Feathers
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Chrome
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Steel, Chrome
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Canvas, Wood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Teak, Wool
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Chrome
1960s Norwegian Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Wool, Rattan, Teak
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Beech
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Rosewood
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Canvas, Wood
Late 20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Canvas, Birch
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Canvas, Wood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Teak
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Canvas, Wood
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Metal
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Teak, Faux Leather
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Steel
Mid-19th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Antique Vatne Møbler Seating
Wool, Teak
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Canvas, Wood
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Metal
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Fabric, Rosewood
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Wool, Rosewood
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood, Rosewood
1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Metal
1960s Norwegian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Faux Leather, Rosewood
1960s Norwegian Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Aluminum
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Teak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Rosewood
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Stainless Steel
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Textile, Beech
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Wool, Beech
Late 20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vatne Møbler Seating
Upholstery, Birch
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Upholstery, Teak
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Leather, Hardwood
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Fabric, Rosewood
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Brass
20th Century Vatne Møbler Seating
Teak
1960s Norwegian Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Foam, Teak, Fabric
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s Norwegian Vintage Vatne Møbler Seating
Rosewood, Upholstery