Carl Malmsten 'Farmor' armchair for O.H. Sjogren Sweden 1957
About the Item
- Creator:Carl Malmsten (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 39.77 in (101 cm)Width: 28.35 in (72 cm)Depth: 33.86 in (86 cm)Seat Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1957
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7883236110842
Carl Malmsten
Carl Malmsten, a prominent furniture designer and educator associated with Swedish modernism, enjoyed immense popularity for his shapely sofas and armchairs in luscious color palettes. Malmsten believed that light — much like our eyes and bodies — doesn’t like to bump into sharp objects. Smooth edges, on the other hand, are kinder to the eye and and to our touch, and allow light to softly bounce off surfaces. Malmsten felt that if his furniture didn’t “serve well” in the home, it had no business being there.
Malmsten’s career essentially began in 1915, when his submissions for a competition to furnish the new Stockholm City Hall were first- and second-place prize winners. In the 1920s, his profile soared. He won a prize at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts — the show that brought the Art Deco style to worldwide attention — and quickly became one of the most sought-after designers of commercial seating in Sweden.
Malmsten was soon contracted to design chairs, tables and other furniture for the Stockholm Concert Hall, the Swedish Institute in Rome and the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. His famous Art Nouveau-influenced Stadshusstolen chair, designed for Stockholm City Hall in 1916, is a highlight of the city’s recently opened Museum of Furniture Studies. Malmsten expanded into interior design and created a luxurious, well-appointed living room in the palace of then-Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and his bride, Crown Princess Louise.
In the 1930s, Malmsten clashed with critics when he voiced his opposition to functionalism. Like Danish modernist Kaare Klint, he favored using quality local materials and prized traditional craftsmanship. Malmsten’s furniture draws on graceful neoclassical influences, and he said that extreme functionalism contributed to “sterile” interiors — while the curving contours of his work may share ground with furniture designed by Alvar Aalto or Bruno Mathsson, Malmsten differed with Bauhaus eminences and some Scandinavian modernists on their prioritization of functionalism.
For an exhibition in 1956 at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Malmsten designed furniture that was intended for mass production — and his striking designs began to make their way into middle-class Swedish homes owing to Malmsten’s partnerships with manufacturers such as O.H. Sjögren. Until then, he had built his pieces at the school he founded in the 1930s or had them made by artisans at several small local workshops.
Malmsten founded a number of schools for design and collaborated with other designers who shared his philosophy of “hand and mind in creative collaboration.” These included the esteemed textile artist Märta Måås Fjetterström, whose pieces he included in exhibits and even his own home.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Carl Malmsten seating, tables, cabinets and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Paris, France
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Carl Axel Acking Armchair "Trienna" for Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden, 1960By Carl-Axel AckingLocated in Paris, FRCARL AXEL ACKING armchair "Trienna" made in Sweden for Nordiska Kompaniet. Natural color solid wood and leather. CONDITION: Good vintage condition with patina: stains, scratches and ...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Oak
- Carl Axel Acking style armchair wood and leather Sweden 1960By Carl-Axel AckingLocated in Paris, FRVery nice and unusual chair designed and made by unknown manufacturer, Sweden around 1960. This chair was inspired by several chairs designed by Carl-Axel Acking . This chair is made...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Edvin Helseth Armchair for Tribo, Sweden, 1960By Edvin HelsethLocated in Paris, FREdvin Helseth armchair for Tribo Sweden 1960s. Good condition. Price for 1 armchair Norwegian interior designer born in 1925, Edvin Helseth opened his own practice in 1949. His Module 5-15, System BBB and other designs became popular in Europe. In 1966 he designed the Trybo armchair for Stange Bruk...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood, Pine
- Alf Svensson armchair Model "Teve" for Ljungs Sweden 1960sBy Alf SvenssonLocated in Paris, FRChair by Alf Svensson model " Teve " for Ljungs sweden 1960s, in its original turquoise green leather. good condition . Leather with some sign of wear. Swedish furniture designer Alf Svensson (1929-1992) was particularly active from the 1950s through the 1970s, creating storage furniture, tables and seating for several influential brands. Information about Svensson is scarce, and while it is clear that his work encompasses many different areas of furniture design, his seating furniture is the most common in the vintage market...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBirch
- Arne Norell armchair for Coja brown leather Sweden 1960By Arne NorellLocated in Paris, FRArne Norell armchair for Coja made of dark wood and brown leather made in Sweden Sweden around 1960 Good condition 2 armchairs available Price for 1 armchair Also a matching Sofa i...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood, Teak
- Folke Ohlsson armchair 'Scania' for Dux Sweden 1960Located in Paris, FR'Scania'' armchair designed by Folke Ohlsson for Dux in Sweden around 1960 .Manufactured in Stained Beech, brass and upholstery. Good condition with original light blue fabric . Fol...Category
Mid-20th Century Armchairs
MaterialsWood
- “Farmor” Armchair by Carl Malmsten for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden 1950sBy Carl MalmstenLocated in Utrecht, NLIn the mid-1950s, Carl Malmsten awarded ten small furniture companies, mainly in Småland, the honour of making a series of some of his products. Among the first pieces was “Farmor”, which soon became the most popular armchair model. In 1956, Carl Malmsten was on one of his regular visits to Sjögren's Upholstery Workshop in Tranås to develop new models for his furniture program. That was when this “Grandma” chair...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- “Farmor” Armchair by Carl Malmsten for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden, 1956By O.H. Sjögren, Carl MalmstenLocated in Utrecht, NLIn the mid-1950s, Carl Malmsten awarded ten small furniture companies, mainly in Småland, the honour of making a series of some of his products. Among the first pieces was Farmor, wh...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- “Farmor” Armchairs by Carl Malmsten for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden, 1956By O.H. Sjögren, Carl MalmstenLocated in Utrecht, NLIn the mid-1950s, Carl Malmsten awarded ten small furniture companies, mainly in Småland, the honour of making a series of some of his products. Among the first pieces was Farmor, wh...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Carl Malmsten "Stugan" Armchair for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden 1950sBy O.H. Sjögren, Carl MalmstenLocated in Utrecht, NLCarl Malmsten is one of Sweden's most famous furniture designers. Many of his furniture are considered modern design classics. His present 'Stugan' (Cottage or Cabin in Swedish) armc...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBouclé, Wood
- Carl Malmsten “Samsas” Armchair for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden 1960sBy Carl MalmstenLocated in Utrecht, NL“Samsas” is for many the most associated model with Carl Malmsten. The designer devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by Swedish country mano...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBouclé, Wood
- Carl Malmsten Upholstered Armchairs for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden, 1960sBy Carl Malmsten, O.H. SjögrenLocated in Utrecht, NLCarl Malmsten devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by Swedish country manors and rustic styles. In this spirit, his armchairs are regarded t...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood