Scandinavian Modern Chair by Elias Svedberg for Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden 1950’s

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Scandinavian Modern Chair by Elias Svedberg for Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden 1950’s

About the Item

A comfortable and low level lounge chair by Elias Svedberg in the Scandinavian Modern Design Style. The design was produced by Stockholm’s high end department store Nordiska Kompaniet (NK), who manufactured and retailed furniture designs by a number of renowned Swedish Modern designers including Axel Einar Hjorth, Elias Svedberg, Carl-Axel Acking and Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist. Experimental architect-designer Elias Svedberg was born 1913, in Uppsala, Sweden, and hails from a pioneering generation of Scandinavian functionalist designers that includes—among others—Bruno Mathsson and Axel Larsson. A gifted talent whose designs often skewed toward the pragmatic and space-saving, Svedberg culls his fame most saliently from a groundbreaking midcentury tenure at Nordiska Kompaniet , in which he incubated the foundational Triva line: the first iteration of ready-made furniture, sold flat-packed to consumers for them to assemble themselves. Introduced into the furniture realm by way of a precocious tutelage (age 15!) at the Sigtunaskolan school under Carl Malmsten, Svedberg completed his education in the early 1930s mostly via his own direction. He went on to edifying stints at Stockholm’s Olofskolan (also Malmsten-led), Swede cabinetmaker Hjalmar Jackson’s carpentry workshop, and later in 1933, studying art history at Harvard’s esteemed Fogg Museum—after which he moved directly into freelance design work. Rounding out the decade, Svedberg enjoyed a variety of projects both as a furniture and interior designer and exhibition architect. At the time, his home base was (notably) John Ericssongatan, a public collective very much in the Svedberg self-made/utopian mold, which housed a motley of relevant Swedish architects and design talents, including Sven Markelius and Viking Göransson. Typical to the time, Svedberg’s designs were often functionalist—Svedberg was drawn by the style’s practicality and revolutionary potential in rationalizing everyday living. In 1943, under solicitation by an SMF Bodafors design contest for “the needs of the modern family home,” he created the first prototype of his crowning Triva Collection, including the Ta i trä, a flat-packed chair designed with, among others, a young Lena Larsson and Erik Wörts. Svedberg parlayed Ta i trä’s success into formal and ongoing employment with Nordiska Kompaniet, for whom he was, at the time, moonlighting as a freelance interior assistant to head textile designer, Astrid Stampe. The new role allowed him to develop NK-bo, a specialty outlet aimed at younger, less affluent clientele than was the NK norm established since the early century by Axel Einar Hjorth. The NK-bo catalog mostly furthered iterations on Triva and other experimental furniture meant for serial production and was notable for the distinguished, youthful talent it employed, which ran the gamut from Stig Lindberg and Yngve Ekström to Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist. Svedberg enjoyed a long tenure at NK and oscillated between various company posts (including heading NK’s interior design department, from 1952 to 1961), before retiring in 1978. At some point along the way, Svedberg dipped into other media, authoring, together with Lena Larsson, the seminal book Hemeinredning (Home Interior Design), which aimed to educate and cultivate readers in creating a pleasant and practical home. He passed away on September 11, 1987. We invite you to follow us and look at our Storefront for further 20th Century Design pieces. General note: Shipping quotes, as supplied by 1stdibs, are only indicative. Please contact us directly with your shipping requirements and we will source the most competitive shipment method (and rate) for every individual piece.

Creator:
NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) (Maker),Elias Svedberg (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 35.44 in (90 cm)Width: 22.05 in (56 cm)Depth: 30.32 in (77 cm)Seat Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)
Style:
Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Birch
Place of Origin:
Sweden
Period:
1950-1959
Date of Manufacture:
1950s
Condition:
Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Cleaned, striped and french polished on all exposed woodwork. The Fabric is originally and untouched by us, but in good condition. Could be updated if so desired. Ht 90cm x width 56cm x depth 77cm seat ht 46cm x depth 53cm weight 15kg.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2868326498902

Shop All NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)

NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)

Since its inception, luxury retailer Nordiska Kompaniet, known affectionately to its customers as “NK,” has offered an influential platform for innovators in furniture design. Its department stores in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, have been home to many of the top names in mid-century modern design and in Scandinavian modernism. Admired for its production of high-quality pieces, it continues to support forward-looking designers.

Nordiska Kompaniet was founded in 1902 through the merger of the companies K.M. Lundberg and Joseph Leja. Its founder, Josef Sachs, envisioned a department store as a cultural arena that would rival the luxury stores of Paris. He opened a flagship store in Stockholm in 1915. Early on, the brand set its sights on quality furniture making, bringing on master cabinetmaker Axel Einar Hjorth, who headed its production from 1927 to 1938.

The Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 was pivotal for both Nordiska Kompaniet and the world of design as a whole. NK’s installation, designed by Sven Markelius, positioned the artist as a key influencer and force majeure of Swedish functionalism.

Nordiska Kompaniet has continued to hire renowned designers throughout its operations, including such luminaries as Carl Bergsten, David Rosen and Gio Ponti. Many iconic sofas, lounge chairs, bookcases and dining room tables from the mid-century modern period originated in its furniture shop. The brand has also been at the forefront of textile, ceramic and wallpaper design, with artists Berndt Friberg, Josef Frank, Stig Lindberg and Elsa Gullberg among those who have contributed to NK’s brand legacy.