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Carl Malmsten Oak "Visingsö" Sofa for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden, 1960s

About the Item

The famous “Visingsö” series demonstrates Carl Malmsten’s fine sense of proportion, line tension and balance between the surfaces, and how skilfully he carried in the heritage of traditional allmoge (folk art) design. This Visingsö three-seater sofa is – design-wise- in the vein of Swedish modernism, with simplicity and functionality, while also showcasing the subtle details and quality Malmsten is known and appreciated for. Even though Swedish design is generally democratic and meant for the masses, pieces were not stripped of all beauty in order to make them as easy to use as possible. The importance of this balance can be identified in the design and execution of this sofa as well: The oak spindles comprising the back are the most apparent visual feature of the design, while the more subtle details, such as the descending angle of the arms and seat framing the seat cushion make this model interesting. These details show a great balance of lines and utilization of the natural beauty of the oak. The solid wooden structure is a frame for the cushions both in a literal and figurative way. The light bouclé fabric is beautifully framed by the wood, highlighting the interesting texture of both materials. The three back and seat cushions are quite rotund; therefore, the sitting comfort is great. The three pairs of tapered legs match and highlight the spindles of the back. Malmsten’s fine sense of proportion, line tension and balance between the surfaces, and how skilfully he carried in the heritage of traditional allmoge (folk art) design is evident in this sofa. This three-seater Visingsö sofa is an elegant and comfortable evidence of the mastery and artistry of Carl Malmsten, who defined mid-20th century Swedish modern seating. The manufacturer, O. H. Sjögren, was a renowned workshop, materializing a great deal of Malmsten’s most brilliant designs. This sofa is therefore of the highest quality, both in terms of materials and craftsmanship. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. About the designer: Carl Malmsten (December 7, 1888 – August 13, 1972) was a Swedish furniture designer, architect, and educator. Malmsten was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Malmsten's career took off when he won a competition in 1916 to design furniture for the Stockholm City Hall and shortly after, in 1917, he exhibited alongside well-known Swedish architects such as Gunnar Asplund and Uno Åhrén. In the 1920s he was invited to furnish a room for the crown prince, Gustaf VI Adolf, and his wife Louise in Ulriksdal Palace. He was honoured with an inaugural Prince Eugen Medal for design in 1945. Already as a young designer in the early 20th century, Carl Malmsten advocated an artisanal furniture design based on local ingredients and traditions, available to a wide audience at a reasonable price. Nature was Carl Malmsten's foremost teacher and source of inspiration. He conveyed his love of craftsmanship as a teacher in his own schools, at Olofskolan in Stockholm, Capellagården on Öland and the Carl Malmsten school on Lidingö, today a branch of Linköping University and one of the country's leading design colleges. As a debater, Malmsten stormed against functionalism, but in retrospect it can be seen that his ideas often coincided with the rational and frugal style ideals of function. Malmsten has had a lasting influence on Swedish furniture design through the two schools he founded—the Carl Malmsten Furniture Studies (Carl Malmstensskolan), which has been a part of Linköping University since 2000, is situated on the island of Lidingö on the outskirts of Stockholm. Carl Malmsten spoke about the importance of tradition, craftsmanship and the nation. His furniture was in many ways a product of the thoughts and ideals of the time, they have a timeless quality that makes them just as relevant and loved today. ~H. Shipping: This sofa will be packed and shipped with the greatest care to make sure you will receive the item in the gallery condition. Complimentary shipping within the Netherlands.

Creator:

Carl Malmsten (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 31.11 in (79 cm)Width: 78.75 in (200 cm)Depth: 30.71 in (78 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)

Style:

Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Bouclé,Oak

Place of Origin:

Sweden

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1960

Condition:

Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.

Seller Location:

Utrecht, NL

Reference Number:

Seller: 202210871stDibs: LU2947329419632

Shop All Carl Malmsten

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.