Gemla

Black stained beech, original calf leather.

Furniture

Chair

History:
Influenced by a meeting with Otto Wagner and Josef Hoffmann in Vienna, Carl Bergsten designed this chair for an exhibition in his hometown Norrköping in 1906. This example is one of eight that were exhibited. The chair became part of the interior at Strömsholmen Restaurant. Most of the chairs were destroyed by a fire in 1939. Of the few still existing, the majority had the back foot sawn off to avoid the waiters from tripping over them. 

Literature:
Boman, Monica, 'Svenska Möbler 1890-1990', Signum (Sweden) 2002, p.98-99, 177.
Gordan, Dan, 'Svenska stolar: Och Deras Formgivare 1899 - 2001', Byggförlaget (Sweden), 2002, p.22.
Mc Fadden, David, 'Scandinavian Modern Design: 1880-1980', Abrams (USA) 1982, p. 82, fig. 66.

Initially designed for Strömsholmens Café at the Industrial Exhibition in Norrköping, Sweden in 1906, this rare armchair was presented as a wedding gift to Carl Bergsten's close friend and colleague Builder Ernst Lundberg. Bergsten also designed the cafe chairs for the Café of which we have an example available (ref. no. 9870). The design of the chairs were influenced by progressive Viennese Secessionist designer and architects Otto Wagner and Josef Hoffmann, following a meeting with them during a study trip across Europe. The chairs' complex bentwood form was produced by Gemla in Diö, at a time when the technology was still in its infancy. It is likely this example is one of the very first produced by the firm and are known as the first bentwood designs produced in Sweden. Builder Ernst Lundberg, to whom the chairs were gifted, was responsible for working on the construction of the Industrial Exhibition in Norrköping, where the design was first exhibited in 1906.

Exhibited:
The model was exhibited at the Industriutställningen (Industrial exhibition), Norrköping, Sweden, 1906.

Rare Armchair

Provenance: 
Builder Ernst Lundberg (1878-1946), given as a wedding gift from Carl Bergsten in 1906
Thence by descent

Literature:
Teknisk tidskrift (technical magazine), body for the Swedish Technological Association's department for house building art Architecture and decorative art, STF, Stockholm, 1908, 6/6 pp. 68-69.
Bonnie Festin, 'Carl Bergsten: en arkitekt och Hans former', Norrköping City Museum in collaboration with Jernhammar & Co advertising agency, Norrköping, 2005, p. 79.
Marianne Nielsen, 'Lillan: minnen från ett skådespelarliv', Alter, Stockholm, 1987.

Table

NK Nordiska Kompaniet

Flamed birch, light birch details and glass. Nickel fitments. Book case with glass front. Draw out writing flap. Exhibited at the Stockholm Exhibition 1930.

Bureau

Ash frame and upholstered back, arms and seat.
Provenance; Stockholm Exhibition 1930.

Chairs

Glass shades carved, etched, with acid treated surface from Orrefors. Candleholders. Silver plated bronze body.

Lighting

Ceiling lamp

Birch interior, top in macassar. Shelf with chamois leather inlay. Three drawers lined with suede. Glass shelf with steel frame. Silver metal edged base. NK metal tag R 7038-C 22 2 46.
Exhibited at Stockholmsutställningen 1930, villa 42, living room.
Main catalogue, Stockholmsutställningen 1930, p. 200.