Carl Malmsten was a Swedish furniture designer. Inspired by Italian Renaissance and Swedish 18th-century forms, his work is typical of the new trends of the 1920s. He furnished the Stockholm Stadhus (city hall, 1916–23), the Stockholm Konserthus (concert hall, 1924–5) and Ulriksdal Castle (early 1920s), eschewing Functionalism in favour of crafted furniture in light or blackened birch decorated with intarsia ornament.
Education
Carl Malmsten studied at the Pahlmanns Handelsinstitut and Hogskolan, Stockholm, in 1910. Between 1910 and 1912, he trained under the cabinetmaker Per Jönsson in Stockholm. Between 1912 and 1915, he furthered his studies in handicrafts and architecture under Carl Bersten in Stockholm. Malmsten said his teachers were two; Mother Nature and traditional Swedish furniture and interiors he saw in Museums.
Competition winner
Malmsten’s career took off when in 1916, he won first and second prize in a competition to supply furniture for the ongoing city hall construction in Stockholm, hosted by the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design. The commission enabled him to open a workshop, and in the following years, he delivered many prized furniture suites to the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design exhibitions.
He also wrote about beauty and comfort in the home in Ellen Keys’ spirit and co-operated with textile artists. In particular, with Märta Måås-Fjetterström, whose carpets and fabrics in saturated earthy tones harmonised with Malmsteen’s interiors.
Style
Malmsten is most famous for his unique handcrafted pieces influenced by the Swedish Gustavian and “rural rococo” style with modern, simplified elegance and function.
He pushed back against the extreme Functionalism of the rest of Europe, believing in the value of traditional craftsmanship in the spirit of Kaare Klint. Like Klint, Malmsten founded several schools as an influential educator and mentor. His furniture was well made and durable and functional but exhibited a neoclassicism and less restrained expressiveness more typical of the Swedes rather than the Danes.
Recognition
Malmsten, in his later writings, had been recognised for his extensive luxury furniture and educational efforts. He started Malmsten’s Verkstadsskola (Malmsten’s Workshop School) in 1930 to train furniture architects and qualified cabinet makers.
He was awarded and recognised for the following;
- 1926 Litteris et Artibus Medal
- 1945 Prince Eugen Medal
- 1917 work shown at Blanchs Konstsalon exhibition in Stockholm
- 1923 and 1956 exhibitions in Gothenburg
- Swedish pavilion at the 1925 Paris ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes’
- 1939 ‘New York World Fair.’
His work has been a subject of a retrospective at the Stockholm Museum.
Sources
Brunnström, L. (2018). Swedish Design: A History. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Hollingsworth, A. (2009). Danish Modern. (n.p.): Gibbs Smith, Publisher.
Mang, K. (1979). History of modern furniture. Harry N. Abrams.
Plath, I. (1966). The Decorative Arts of Sweden. New York.
More Furniture Designers
-
The Influence of the Square in Furniture Design
Squares have influenced furniture design, enhancing aesthetics and functionality, with their roots in ancient Greek architecture and modernist furniture. The square shape is a timeless influence in furniture design, offering versatility, modularity, and sustainability through its equal sides and right angles.Read More →
-
Metal Desk Lamp – with Adjustable Gooseneck
This lamp features a high-quality metal lampshade and base that is heavy-duty, long-lasting, and attractive, brightening your living space, bedroom, or study room.Read More →
-
Hille Modernist British Furniture Manufacturer
Hille, a British furniture manufacturer, is known for its Modernist chairs and has collaborated with renowned designers like Robin Day and Fred Scott. The Poly Side chair, introduced in 1963, is renowned for its innovative use of materials and functional, minimalist design. Made from molded polypropylene, it is durable, lightweight, and easy to clean. The…
-
Nightstand with Charging Station
The OKD square nightstand features a rustic & industrial combination of beauty and functionality with a distressed rustic finish and dark iron-tone metal accents. It is equipped with 2 smooth-gliding 2 drawers and strong powder-coated metal pulls to get essentials quickly. It can be used as an end table, office supplies storage, or in the…
-
SOOWERY End Tables with Charging Station
Side Tables with Charging Stations feature two AC outlets, USB ports, and a 6.5 ft cord each, with a well-considered design and curved design. They fit tight spaces and are easy to assemble.Read More →
-
Louis Midavaine (1888 – 1978) French Furniture Designer
Louis Midavaine (1888 – 1978) was a French accessories and furniture designer. He was born in Roubaix. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Roubaix.Read More →
-
Georges Champion (1889 – 1940) French Furniture Designer
Georges Champion, a French decorator and furniture designer, was known for his sleek lines and modern aesthetic. Influenced by the Art Deco movement, Champion’s furniture featured geometric shapes and bold colors. He worked on high-profile projects, including Parisian hotels and restaurants. Champion’s designs are highly sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts worldwide.Read More →
-
Butterfly Dining Chair in Green from Armen Living
The Armen Living Butterfly Dining Chair in Green Fabric and Walnut Wood Finish offers a stylish and comfortable dining experience. Its unique butterfly design and durable construction make it perfect for families with children or pets. Easy to clean and maintain.Read More →
-
Classic Furniture Morocco Dining Chair with Cushion
Dining chair: dining chairs expertly constructed from Walnut, rubberwood solids, and veneers for high-quality, long-lasting dining room furniture Read More →
-
Sofa, Borge Mogensen, 1945
This sofa’s straightforward execution and regular silhouette reflect characteristics that were considered essential for advanced design at the time. Nonetheless, the turned spindles, stretchers, and exquisite details owe a lot to Borge Mogensen’s use of the lexicon of traditional furniture forms—especially American Shaker and English Windsor—in his wRead More →
-
Womb chair – Eero Saarinen 1946
Its name expresses its purpose: “It was designed on the theory that a great number of people have never felt secure and comfortable since they have left the womb.”Read More →
-
Plia Folding Chair by Giancarlo Piretti
Giancarlo Piretti’s “Plia” is a unique folding chair that combines form, function, and aesthetics in perfect harmony. It is reasonably priced, takes up little room, has a visible folding mechanism, and can be used both inside and outside.Read More →
-
Shaker Style of Furniture – Simplicity and Functionality
The Shaker furniture style is characterised by simplicity and functionality, made from high-quality materials and features clean lines and minimal ornamentation. It fell out of favour in the early twentieth century but is now appreciated for its timeless elegance and practicality.Read More →
-
Billy Wilder Chaise Lounge by Charles and Ray Eames
The Wilder Chaise 1968 Lounge is a masterpiece of design created by Charles and Ray Eames, featuring a nylon-coated cast aluminium frame and base with a leather-covered polyurethane foam upholstered seating section. It is functional and adds elegance to any living space.Read More →
-
LL2 Lounge Chair- Elegant Modern Design
LL2 Lounge Chair – designed by BonnettiKozerski. This beautiful elegant lounge chair was first exhibited in New York in 2011. Read MoreRead More →
-
Josef Pohl (1894 – 1975) Czech lighting designer
Josef Pohl (1894 – 1975) was a Czech lighting designer. He designed the 1929 precursor of the adjustable lamp. Gerd Balzer produced his model. As part of its Kamden collection, Korting und Mathieson created a similar lamp. Pohl and others at the Bauhaus also executed the prototype adjustable wall lamp illustrated in Staaliches Bauhaus, Weimar…
-
The P40 Articulated Lounge Chair – Machine for Sitting
Osvaldo Borsani Armchair (P40) 1955, articulated chaise longue. The rubber-armed chair was a sophisticated ‘machine for sitting’ that could it was claimed, assume 486 positions.Read More →
-
Missi Sissi Table Lamp – A Whimisical Design
The Miss Sissi Table Lamp, replete with a mysterious name, is a signature Starck product: a clever reworking of anRead More →
-
Pavilion de l’Esprit Nouveau (1925) Looking into the Future
L’Esprit Nouveau. The pavillion was named after Le Corbusier’s magazine, L’Esprit Nouveau, which he started in 1920 to spread the word about his own work and that of other artists of the time.Read More →
-
Adeptus a British Furniture Firm (1969 – 1985) – London
Adeptus was a British Furniture Firm based in London. Background In its short lifespan, Adeptus revolutionized the furniture industry withRead More →
You may also be interested in
Orrefors Glasbruk a Swedish glassware manufacturer. – Encyclopedia of Design
Orrefors Glasbruk is a Swedish glassware manufacturer. An ironworks was established in 1726 on the property of Halleberg ( the Orrefors estate), Socken, Småland. It started production of ink bottles in 1898. In 1913, Johan Ekman purchased the estate and placed forester Albert Ahlin in charge.
Ergonomidesign – Swedish design consultancy – Encyclopedia of Design
Ergonomidesign a Swedish design consultancy was founded in Stockholm in 1969, it has since established an international reputation for elegant yet efficient designs for the disabled, employing 27 industrial designers, engineers and ergonomists in 2003. Maria Benktzon (born 1946) and Sven-Eric Juhlin (born 1940) were crucial members who joined Ergonomidesign in 1973 and 1976.