“Krister” Armchair by Arne Norell for AB Arne Norell Aneby, Sweden, 1960s

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“Krister” Armchair by Arne Norell for AB Arne Norell Aneby, Sweden, 1960s

About the Item

This “Krister” is a true Swedish design icon, and is among Arne Norell’s cosiest works. This high-back armchair’s comfort is only rivalled by its stylishness and elegance. Arne Norell was a household name within the interior design-world of Europe, his models were also produced in other parts of the world under a licence. Raised on a stained wood frame covered in beautiful, light coloured bouclé upholstery, this model symbolizes the heyday of Swedish mid-century design. The gently elongated, tufted back is accentuated by the loose hanging headrest, which is the standout feature of this model. The removable headrest is a simple, yet ingenious design element that signifies the Scandinavian design principle of functionality. The sitter of this chair is “hugged” by the ear flaps on both sides of the backrest, and by the loose seat cushion on the raised bottom. Norell had a unique design idiom, which is clearly visible in this model: function, durability, timeless design, and perhaps above all, comfort. This traditional yet playful “Krister” armchair combines all of these attributes, which makes it one of the most sought after works of Norell. This chair is marked with ‘Möbel AB Arne Norell’ and has been reupholstered in a premium bouclé fabric to complement and enhance its elegance and comfort. The factory in Aneby, Sweden has been famous for its furniture manufactured by hand. Norell Furniture still operates to this day, keeping the legacy of the great Swedish designer alive. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The armchair has been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric. Dimensions: 26.77 in W x 32.28 in D x 40.94 in H; Seat height 17.71 in 68 cm W x 82 cm D x 104 cm H; Seat height 45 cm About the designer: The Swedish designer, Arne Norell was born in 1917 in Åsele, Sweden, and was active in the post-war era, at the height of international fascination with Scandinavian design. While little biographical information is available about his formative years, it is known that he opened a furniture workshop in Stockholm in 1954. In 1958, he launched his eponymous manufacturing company, “Møbel AB Arne Norell”, on a two-acre farm in Småland. Through the course of his prolific career, this idyllic setting remained Norell’s central source of inspiration and the site where he designed and produced all of his furniture until he passed away in 1971. Norell is often praised for pioneering “conceptual” furniture, because he employed traditional materials - leather, turned wood, bentwood, and metal, for example - in unexpected forms, often with lyrical results. His designs have an affinity with those of Danish designer Kaare Klint (1888-1954), who, a generation before, brought time-honoured, vernacular forms into modernist expression. In fact, Klint’s iconic Safari Chair (1933) inspired Norell to create the Sirocco Safari Chair (1964), which is lightweight, collapsible, and held together by leather support straps instead of glue or screws. Norell’s wood-framed Inka Armchair, Indra Sofa, and Ilona Sofa (design dates unverified) are likewise held together by leather. While Norell’s designs found a solid market within his lifetime, his greatest recognition came posthumously: The British Furniture Manufacturers Association awarded Norell’s low-slung, steel-framed, leather-clad Ari Chair (1966) “Show Piece of the Year” in 1973. Norell’s pieces have become increasingly collectible in the 2010s. Today, Norell’s daughter and son-in-law, Marie Norell-Möller and Thomas Möller, carry on his work, operating under the name Norell Møbel AB. In 2014, the company celebrated its 60th anniversary. It is the only Swedish company that has continuously manufactured the entirety of Norell’s catalogue since the 1950s. ~H. Shipping: This armchair will be packed and shipped with the greatest care to make sure you will receive the item in gallery condition. Complimentary shipping within the Netherlands.

Creator:
Arne Norell (Designer),Norell Möbel AB (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 40.95 in (104 cm)Width: 26.78 in (68 cm)Depth: 32.29 in (82 cm)Seat Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)
Style:
Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Fabric,Wood
Place of Origin:
Sweden
Period:
1950-1959
Date of Manufacture:
1960s
Condition:
Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. The armchair has been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric.
Seller Location:
Utrecht, NL
Reference Number:
Seller: 202005211stDibs: LU2947323194762

Shop All Arne Norell

Arne Norell

Arne Norell’s enduring designs mixed leather and metal as well as turned wood and bentwood in pieces that allowed the natural beauty of these materials to shine. Simple and casual yet sophisticated, his vintage sofas, lounge chairs and other furniture epitomize the Scandinavian modern style that took post–World War II design by storm.

Although he created versatile furnishings that promoted comfort along with style, Norell is lesser known than many other mid-century designers, with some of his work produced only after his death. Born in Åsele, Sweden, Norell opened a furniture workshop in Solna, just north of Stockholm, in 1954. In 1958, he established Møbel AB Arne Norell on a farm in Småland. (This region is also the birthplace of IKEA, which opened its first store that same year.) The beauty and tranquility of this location were a source of inspiration.

In Småland, Norell created his most well-known designs, among them the Inca armchair with visible wooden dowels and plush leather, the Indra and Ilona sofas and the spare but elegant wood-framed Sirocco chair (1964). For many of his designs, Norell looked to the same military-style campaign furniture that had, decades prior, inspired the revered Safari chair (1933) crafted by Kaare Klint, a legendary Danish designer and Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts professor who taught the likes of Hans Wegner, Ole Wanscher and others.

Like these earlier furniture designers, Norell was committed to making comfortable and practical furniture. Using leather and warm woods as the building blocks of his work, he eschewed glue and screws, instead securing his designs with buckles and leather straps. In 1973, Norell earned posthumous recognition from the British Furniture Manufacturers Association for his sumptuous Ari chair, a luxurious lounge set on a chrome-plated steel frame with foam cushions covered in leather.

During his lifetime, Norell’s work was popular among European interior designers. However, it became more widely known after 1971, when many of his designs were finally put into production. Norell’s furnishings, as well as work by his daughter Marie Norell-Möller and other Swedish designers, are still crafted by hand in the Aneby, Sweden, factory operated by Norell Furniture, which has remained a family-run company.

Find a collection of authentic vintage Arne Norell furniture today on 1stDibs.