Swedish, Chair, 1950's, Carl Malmsten, Samsas, Reupholstered
View Similar Items
Swedish, Chair, 1950's, Carl Malmsten, Samsas, Reupholstered
About the Item
- Creator:Carl Malmsten (Designer),O.H. Sjögren (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.29 in (82 cm)Width: 27.56 in (70 cm)Depth: 27.56 in (70 cm)Seat Height: 16.15 in (41 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. Complete professional reupholstery.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1232233394962
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.
O.H. Sjögren
From its humble beginnings as a saddlery more than 100 years ago, O.H. Sjögren has grown into one of Sweden’s largest upholstered furniture manufacturers and a leading contributor to Scandinavian modern style in the 20th and 21st centuries.
O.H. Sjögren was founded in 1902 by Oskar Herbert Sjögren, then a 25-year-old saddlemaker and journeyman, who took over a saddlery in Tranås, Sweden. By 1914, at the onset of World War I, Sjögren’s business had grown as supplies such as pack saddles and life belts were in high demand for Sweden’s military. In 1917, with the war in Europe still ongoing, O.H. Sjögren began a collaboration with the neighboring company Tranås Vagnfabrik to upholster seats for horse-drawn carriages. However, with the carriage market in decline by the 1930s, O.H. Sjögren shifted its operations to furniture upholstery.
From 1936 to 1973, O.H. Sjögren was helmed by Oskar’s sons, Ollie and Gustaf, who were determined to produce impeccable Scandinavian furniture. The manufacturer soon gained its largest and most important client, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) in Stockholm, followed by renowned Swedish designer Carl Malmsten in 1956.
Malmsten’s partnership with O.H. Sjögren throughout the 1950s and 1960s was a great success. Together, the designer and manufacturer produced a wide variety of mid-century modern seating, such as the plush, classic Samsas sofa, the Lata Greven (Lazy Countess) lounge chair and the popular Farmor armchair.
In 1973, Ollie’s son Erik became head of O.H. Sjögren and attracted several major design brands, including Svenskt Tenn. Although the Swedish furniture industry was threatened by cheaper, imported, mass-produced furniture from elsewhere in Europe and Asia during the 1980s and 1990s, O.H. Sjögren endured in its success due to its reputation for high quality and formidable designs.
Since 2005, O.H. Sjögren has been run by its fourth generation from the Sjögren family — Oskar’s great-grandsons Håkan and Jakob. The company continues to produce many of Malmsten’s most popular seating, as well as Svenskt Tenn’s classic designs.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage O.H. Sjögren seating.
- Swedish Sofa, 1950's, Carl Malmsten, Samsas, ReupholsteredBy Carl Malmsten, O.H. SjögrenLocated in London, GBAn original 1960s Samsas sofa by renowned Swedish designer Carl Malmsten for OH Sjogren. This sofa has been completely refurbished, reupholstered with new foam and covered in luxurio...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wool, Beech, Birch
- Swedish Sofa, 1950's, Carl Malmsten, Samspel, ReupholsteredBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBAn original 1950s Samspel sofa by renowned Swedish designer Carl Malmsten for AB Record, Bollnas, Sweden. This sofa has been completely refurbished, reupholstered with new foam and c...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wool, Beech, Birch
- Modernist Lounge Chair, Tove & Edvard Kindt LarsenBy France & Daverkosen, Tove & Edvard Kindt-LarsenLocated in London, GBA superbly designed lounge chair by Tove & Edvard Kindt Larsen. Model 117 constructed from European beech with inset teak armrests. Price includes reupholstery in fabric colour of ch...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTeak, Beech
- Modernist Oak Lounge Chair, Tove & Edvard Kindt LarsenBy France & Daverkosen, Tove & Edvard Kindt-LarsenLocated in London, GBA superbly designed lounge chair by Tove & Edvard Kindt Larsen. Model 117 constructed from European oak with inset teak armrests. Price includes reupholstery in fabric colour of choi...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsOak, Teak
- Leather Erik Kirkegaard Chair, 1950By Høng Stolefabrik, Erik KirkegaardLocated in London, GBThe Erik Kirkegaard chair is probably the most comfortable chair of its kind that we’ve encountered over the years. The curves and angles hold and support the body extremely well. Ex...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Leather, Walnut
$1,401 / item - Huge 1960's Swedish Glass VaseLocated in London, GBA huge white glass vase. Produced in Sweden during the 1960's. Wonderful crisp white glass and in superb condition - classic curves and shape.Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Carl Malmsten 1950s Lounge Chair Model Samsas for O.H. SjögrenBy Carl Malmsten, O.H. SjögrenLocated in Bridgeport, CTBeautiful midcentury lounge chair model Samsas (meaning "together" in Swedish) designed by Swedish design icon, Carl Malmsten in 1955, for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden. Malmsten's work is in...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Teak
- Carl Malmsten "Samsas" ChairBy Carl MalmstenLocated in Los Angeles, CACarl Malmsten "Samsas" chair produced by O. H. Sjogren. Store formerly known as ARTFUL DODGER INCCategory
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Fabric
- Carl Malmsten Boucle Samsas Lounge Chair, 1950sBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBCarl Malmsten Samsas lounge chair, 1950s Produced in the 1950s by O H Sjögren in Sweden, the 'Samsas' lounge chair is one of Swedish master Carl Malmsten's finest works. This e...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Beech
- Midcentury Carl Malmsten "Samsas" Sofa, Sweden, 1960sBy Carl Malmsten, O.H. SjögrenLocated in Hillringsberg, SEThis midcentury icon sofa was designed by Carl Malmsten and this one was produced by O.H Sjögren. The sofa have a have new fabric and rehopulstred by proffesinol with original Malmst...Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Carl Malmsten "Åldermannen" Winged Armchairs for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden, 1950sBy Carl Malmsten, O.H. SjögrenLocated in Utrecht, NLCarl Malmsten’s life's work spans nearly sixty intense years and his legacy is considered a national treasure in Sweden. He created a number of furniture classics including these rar...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Carl Malmsten Vintage Samsas Chairs in Off-White BoucleBy Carl MalmstenLocated in London, GBCarl Malmsten Samsas Lounge chairs, 1950s Produced in the 1950s by O H Sjögren in Sweden, the 'Samsas' lounge chair is one of Swedish master Carl Malmsten's finest works. These examp...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Beech