Goran Malmvall Chairs

An assortment of goran malmvall chairs is available at 1stDibs. The range of distinct goran malmvall chairs — often made from wood, pine and softwood — can elevate any home. Goran malmvall chairs have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Goran malmvall chairs are generally popular furniture pieces, but Scandinavian Modern, mid-century modern and folk art styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Goran malmvall chairs have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Goran Malmvall, Karl Andersson Söner and Svensk Fur are consistently popular.

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $3,553, while they’re typically $296 on the low end and $16,599 highest priced.

Vintage Göran Malmvall furniture reflects the skill and precision of a craftsman focused on geometry and sumptuous simplicity. The Swedish designer's tables and case pieces are sleek and striking, with elegant, clean lines that emphasize the function-first sensibility typically associated with Scandinavian modernism. An adept cabinetmaker with considerable technical expertise, Malmvall created furniture that is widely loved by design enthusiasts all over the world. 

Malmvall was born in Berghem, Sweden, and was the youngest son of Karl Andersson — the master cabinetmaker and founder of the reputable furniture company Karl Andersson Söner. Malmvall grew up on the small family farm in Berghem with his ten brothers and sisters but was so frequently in the factory that he often slept there.  At the young age of 17, he became a foreman on the production floor and, eventually, factory manager. 

Early on, Malmvall showed a considerable talent for design and began studying furniture-making in his spare time. He took design courses near his hometown, and he was brought into the family business at a young age. Malmvall furthered his studies under the tutelage of Carl Malmsten, a prominent designer and educator associated with Swedish modernism. 

Malmvall became an integral part of Karl Andersson Söner and one of its leading designers. In 1972, he created the iconic KA72 series of storage cabinets — a completely customizable system that can be purchased with solid-wood or glass-front doors and open shelving. The KA72 collection is still available from Karl Karl Andersson Söner today and is versatile enough for any room in the home.

Malmvall went on to design for several Scandinavian furniture companies. The slender dining chairs, sofas and tables he created for Svensk Fur are likely his best known designs. He remained a designer for Karl Andersson Söner until 1982. The designer’s son, Karl Malmvall, is also a successful furniture designer who worked for IKEA.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Göran Malmvall seating, tables, case pieces and more.

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.