Vintage Yngve Ekström furniture embodies the beauty and simplicity of the Scandinavian modern style. The Swedish designer, architect and woodworker created clean-lined hardwood pieces with sophisticated details and flourishes. He was known for his comfortable lounge chair designs as well as chic cocktail tables and handsome highboard cabinets.
Ekström was born in 1913 in Småland, home to Sweden’s oldest furniture factory, Hagafors Stolfabrik. After his father died, he began working at the factory. In 1945, Ekström and his older brother, Jerker Ekström, opened ESE Möbler, a furniture company headquartered in their hometown. In 1952, they received acclaim for their innovative Thema chair. The laminated veneer chair was packed flat for easy shipping so customers could assemble it at home. Ekström followed it with the 1955 Arka chair for the furniture manufacturer Stolab. A spindle backrest and spacious curved seat gave the chair comfort and style.
Ekström’s most popular design was the 1956 Lamino chair. Still in production, the minimalist wooden-frame chair features a sinuous and inviting profile with a high backrest. Looking back at his well-loved design, Ekström said: “To have designed one good chair might not be a bad life’s work.”
After Ekström’s brother left the company, he changed the name to Swedese. Ekström sold Swedese in 1974, but continued to design for it until he died in 1988. His furniture is in museum collections around the world, including the National Museum in Stockholm, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Victoria & Albert museum in London. In 1999, Swedish design magazine Sköna Hems named the Lamino chair the “20th-Century’s Best Swedish Furniture Design.”
Swedese, which still occupies its original building in Småland, partnered with artist Kustaa Saksi in 2017 to update the iconic Lamino chair.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Yngve Ekström seating, tables, storage cabinets and more.
Wooden Dish by Yngve Ekström, 1950s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Wooden Dish by Yngve Ekström, 1950s Additional Information: Material: Wood Style: Scandinavian, Mid century Produced in Sweden Dimensions: (W x D x H): 38...
Wood
Wooden Dish in Teak by Yngve Ekström, 1950s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Wooden Dish in Teak by Yngve Ekström, 1950s Additional Information: Material: Wood Style: Scandinavian, Mid century Produced in Sweden Dimensions: (W x D ...
Wood, Teak
Georges Jouve Ceramic "Apple" Dish, 1950s
By Georges Jouve
Located in Paris, FR
Georges Jouve's Ceramic cup or vide-poches " La pomme " signed Jouve & apollon mark on back in deep enamel. White cracked enamel with a turquoise/green/pink apple Measures: 17 cm ...
Ceramic
Rare 1950s Danish Teak Office Wastebasket
By Hans J. Wegner, Einar Barnes , Illums Bolighus
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare and hard to find Danish teak wastebasket, unknown designer.
Teak
Vintage 1950s Italian Enamelled Copper Dish
Located in Torquay, GB
Extraordinary vintage 1950s large copper centrepiece dish. Featuring a burst of multicoloured lava bubble with a textured surface. This is a good sized dish, ideal for coffee tables ...
Copper, Enamel
$1,058Sale Price|40% Off
H 4.34 in Dm 7.09 in
Vintage Italian Ceramic Candy Dish by Guido Gambone, circa 1950s
By Guido Gambone
Located in London, GB
Vintage Italian decorative ceramic candy dish attributed to Guido Gambone (circa 1950s). A flying saucer shaped dish with cover is painted with alte...
Ceramic
$1,298Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.4 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
Decorative Italian Ceramic Dish by Guido Gambone (circa 1950s) - Small
By Guido Gambone
Located in London, GB
Small Italian decorative ceramic vide-poche by Guido Gambone (circa 1950s). Hand painted using the artist's familiar colours with stylised bull motif and a crackle effect background ...
Ceramic
Stig Lindberg 1950s Stoneware Dish, Gustavsberg Studio, Black/Brown
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful platter designed by Stig Lindberg at Gustavsbergs Studio in Stockholm, it is 30.5 cm (12.2") in diameter. It has a black/brown color an...
Stoneware
Robert Perot, Dish, Ceramic, France, 1950s
By Robert Perot
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed ceramic dish designed by Robert Perot and produced by Atelier du Vieux Moulin, Valluris, France, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 1.25"H x 5.25" Diameter All i...
Ceramic
Midcentury wooden bowl by Johnny Mattsson, Sweden, 1950s
By Johnny Mattsson
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely small bowl by Johnny Mattsson, sculpted from fruitwood in the form of a bird, reminiscent of a loon.
Fruitwood
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.25 in W 17.25 in D 10.25 in
Mid Century Aeroplan Plywood Leaf Dish by Tapio Wirkkala Made in Finland c 1950s
By Tapio Wirkkala
Located in New York, NY
Iconic laminated wood aeroplan leaf dish by recognized master of the genre, Tapio Wirkkala. Made in Finland by Soinne et Kni Oy, circa 1950's. This example is in very good, origina...
Birch, Teak
1950s Silver Oval Tray or Dish
Located in London, GB
Continental silver oval dish or tray – perfect for bathroom display, serving dish or as a dressing-table accessory.
Silver
$398Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.19 in W 6.5 in D 7.49 in
Vintage Leaf Shaped Serving Dish by Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg, 1950s
By Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A serving dish in faience designed by Stig Lindberg at Gustavsbergs Studio in Stockholm, it is 19 x 16.5 cm (7.6" x 6.6") in diameter. It´s in excellent condition. This dish is paint...
Stoneware
$926
H 2.17 in Dm 7.29 in
Midcentury Decorative Ceramic Dish by Phillip H. Paradise, California, 1950s
By Phillip Herschel Paradise
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Rare decorative earthenware dish by renowned Californian artist Phillip Herschel Paradise. Hand-painted decor, circa 1955. Signed. Phil Paradise wa...
Ceramic
Ceramic vessels by Yngve Blixt, Sweden, circa 1960
By Yngve Ekström
Located in New York, NY
Sculptural vessels by Swedish ceramic artist, Yngve Blixt for Höganäs. Dimensions: Left to right: 10" H, 7" H, 10" H, 22" H.
Ceramic