Rare Axel Einar Hjorth ‘Lido’ Lounge Chair in Patinated Leather

Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, lounge chair ‘Lido’, leather, lacquered birch, Sweden, 1932

Rare lounge chair by Swedish designer Axel Einar Hjorth designed and manufactured in 1932 for Nordiska Kompaniet. What is striking about this design is the modern approach it expresses. Clearly leaving his more classical approach of previous designs behind, Hjorth here designed a chair that could not be more modern. In the time Hjorth was chief designer at Nordiska Kompaniet, he created a strong and cubic design free of any decorative details. Therefore, the patinated leather in red brown color embraces the purity of the shape. Backrest and armrests are on the same height and surround the sitter in a cozy way. A thick seat cushion which overlaps provides comfort. But this lounge chair is way more about proportions and detail in lines. Per example notice the slightly trapezoid shape the chair has when observed from all sides.

On the bottom of the wooden frame a metal plate of Nordiska Kompaniet is fixated with the engraved number R 36277 – C.

Renowned Swedish designed Axel Einar Hjorth (1888-1959) studied at the Higher School of Art and Design in Stockholm. Although he never graduated, Hjorth found his way into the world of furniture design. The absence of a diploma did not stand in the way of a successful career. Hjorth worked for the Stockholm City Trade Association from 1918 onwards. At the same time he collaborated with small, Swedish manufacturers. Milestone of Hjorth’s career was his position as chief architect and designer at Nordiska Kompaniet from 1927. The high-class department store NK was one the most important furniture manufacturers for exclusive Scandinavian furniture. In the same year that Hjorth started to work for Nordiska Kompaniet, Hjorth, Carl Malmsten and Carl Hörvik were presenting their designs at the exhibition of Contemporary Swedish Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. Two years later, Hjorth showed his ‘Louis’ and ‘Caesar’ series at the World Exhibition in Barcelona. Hjorths’s early oeuvre is characterized by a very decorative, neoclassical style that followed the so called ‘Swedish Grace’. Exclusive materials and great craftsmanship were combined with classic forms to design furniture for an exclusive clientele. At the same time, Hjorth designed more modernist designs.

Please note that this item is in good, used condition. The leather is patinated and in a beautiful state, showing signs of wear and use common for a piece this age.

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