A Pair of Pine and Iron Armchairs for Åby Möbelfabrik, Sweden 1940s

While they play a prominent role in both architecture and pop culture, rocking chairs solidified their place in Scandinavian design history as well. As this Swedish model proves, functionality can manifest in many forms, but it is always accompanied by both great material and aesthetic quality in Swedish design. Taking influence from the golden age of modernism in Sweden and the 1930s’ cabin furniture, this rocking chair was made in the famous “sportstugemöbel” style, originally intended for Swedish summer houses. Solid pine was the preferred material in this specific style and some of the most prominent Swedish designers created models for these summer residencies, including Axel Einar Hjorth and Carl Malmsten. Functionality and longevity were the guiding principles for the style, and accordingly, for this rocking chair as well. The pine structure is very polished and firm, assembled with an expert joinery technique. The seat is ergonomically carved, and the edges are gently rounded for maximum comfort. Åby furniture...

Designed in the early phase of what we know today as mid-century modern, this charming armchair is evidence of how traditional Swedish craftsmanship was brought into modernism. A fun...