Center or Side Table in Oak by A.E. Hjorth Attributed for NK

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Center or Side Table in Oak by A.E. Hjorth Attributed for NK

About the Item

The work of Swedish architect and furniture designer Axel Einar Hjorth (1888-1959) is unmistakable for its inimitable sense of wit and elegance. After attending the Högre Konstindustriella Skolan, the renowned Stockholm arts institution (later called “Konstfack”), Hjorth began designing for a number of furniture manufacturers, including the Stockholm department store Nordiska Kompaniet working under architect Carl Bergsten. Hjorth was largely responsible for organizing displays at the 1923 Gothenburg Jubilee Exhibition, including his furniture designs for Bodafors, with whom he would continue to collaborate into the 1940s. Together with Carl Malmsten, Carl Hörvic, and others of his generation, Hjorth contributed to the flowering of Swedish design and its international recognition in the 1920s. For over ten years, Hjorth served as chief designer for the furniture department of the Nordiska Kompaniet department store, arguably the most exclusive manufactury in Sweden. Hjorth’s work from this period was largely characterized by the free adaption of classical themes that was adopted by the younger generation of architects and designers. At the 1929 World Fair in Barcelona, Hjorth exhibited his Cesar series. By the 1930s, Hjorth’s repertoire absorbed aspects of functionalism (as Modernist design was referred to in Sweden), if bypassing the agenda of social reform associated with the movement. In 1938, Hjorth left Nordiska Kompaniet and went into business for himself, including a showroom for his designs and an architectural office, which he would maintain through the 1940s. Hjorth produced a string of new models at this time that were notable for their lyrical lines and inventive design solutions. This stunning center table attributed to Hjorth took inspiration from 17th century Baltic prototypes. Representing a time of military power for Sweden, references to the 17th century frequently appeared alongside the Modern Classicism popular the 1920s. A complex piece, the table's twisted legs and stretchers refer to traditional furniture types, while the apron's triglyph-like carvings suggest the frieze course of a Greco-Roman temple with the legs thus reading as Solomonic columns. The table top features a masterful use of veneers that form a Northern Star motif at its center.

Creator:
Nordiska Kompaniet (Maker)
Attributed to:
Axel Einar Hjorth (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Diameter: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Carved,Marquetry
Place of Origin:
Sweden
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1920s
Condition:
Excellent, recently restored.
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: U1207109141143