Bruno Mathsson (1907–1988)

Swedish furniture designer and architect – master of functionalism

Bruno Mathsson was one of Sweden's most influential designers, known for his groundbreaking bentwood furniture and his focus on ergonomics and functionalism. With works such as the Pernilla chair and the Eva chair, he put Sweden on the world map as a central player in Nordic modernism.

“My head is full of new ideas. But one life is not enough for everything, even if I have the ability to work to the limit of my endurance.” – Bruno Mathsson, 1973

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Background and education

Bruno Mathsson was born on January 13, 1907 in Värnamo, Sweden, into a furniture-making family. His father, Karl Mathsson, was a fifth-generation cabinetmaker, and it was natural for Bruno to follow in his footsteps. He learned the craft in the workshop at a young age and developed a special understanding of the properties of wood. In the late 1920s, he studied the ideas of functionalism through materials from the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, which became a crucial turning point in his design philosophy.

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Career and work

In the 1930s, Mathsson began experimenting with ergonomic chairs. He studied, among other things, the seat curve by sitting in the snow and analyzing the impression. The result was new types of chairs without traditional springs, but instead made of bentwood and wickerwork. His first great success was the chair “Gräshoppan” (1931) designed for Värnamo Hospital.

In 1936 he had his breakthrough with a solo exhibition at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, followed by a Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris the following year with the bed “Paris”. He then gained international recognition, and in the 1940s his furniture was included in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, cementing his status as one of the Nordic countries’ most important designers. He also worked as an architect and became known for his experimental glass houses with underfloor heating, which challenged contemporary building traditions.

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Iconic furniture by Bruno Mathsson

• Gräshoppan (1931) – chair in beech wood and hemp straps, originally developed for Värnamo Hospital.
• Model 36 Reclining Chair (1933–36) – a series of ergonomic chairs (work, easy and reclining chairs) with bentwood and wicker, developed through studies of sitting positions.
• The Pernilla series (from 1944) – comfortable lounge chairs in beech wood with wicker seats, among his most well-known and still sought-after designs.
• The Eva chair (1935) – simple, light chair in beech wood and hemp straps, a symbol of Swedish functionalism.
• The Karin chair (1969) – developed with DUX, a more upholstered lounge chair in an international style.
• The Superellipse table (1960s) – developed in collaboration with Piet Hein and Arne Jacobsen, with a mathematically inspired tabletop shape.
  
  

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Famous buildings

• The Glass House in Värnamo (1950) – his own furniture showroom, pioneering work in glass architecture.
• Frösakull House (1960) – a summer house on the west coast of Sweden, where outdoor and indoor spaces almost flow together.
• The Villa at Vidöstern (1964–65) – private residence by the lake, an example of his use of light and glass.
• The villa in Vilamoura, Portugal (1973) – a winter residence that combined Nordic ideals with the light of the south.
  
  

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Producers and collaboration

• Karl Mathsson – the family business in Värnamo, where Bruno Mathsson produced his early and most iconic furniture.
• DUX – Swedish manufacturer, known for the collaboration on the Jetson (1965) and Karin (1969) lounge chairs as well as the further development of the Pernilla series.
• IKEA – brief collaboration in the 1970s on democratizing design with beechwood furniture for the mass market.
• Mathsson International AB – established to collect and disseminate Bruno Mathsson's production and distribution internationally.
  
  

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Legacy and legacy

Bruno Mathsson died on August 17, 1988 in Värnamo. He left behind an extensive legacy as both a furniture designer and an architect. His furniture is still produced by Bruno Mathsson International and DUX, and today stands as timeless classics in Scandinavian design. Mathsson's experiments with ergonomics, bentwood and glass architecture make him one of the most influential figures in 20th-century design history.

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Discover Bruno Mathsson's works at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK you will find original furniture by Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson – from iconic lounge chairs like Pernilla and Eva to his rarer tables and classic functionalist pieces. All furniture is carefully selected for its authenticity and quality.

If you can't find the exact work you are looking for, we are happy to help you. Contact us at support@klassik.dk or call 33 33 90 60 – or visit us at Bredgade 3, Copenhagen.