Side chair

This rare side chair of unknown design origin, likely produced in Sweden during the 1930s, exhibits a distinctive fusion of vernacular craftsmanship and sculptural character. Constructed in solid wood with a high, narrow backrest and handwoven seat in natural hemp cord, the chair is visually defined by its tall and theatrical proportions. The backrest comprises three gently arched cross-slats and a decorative arrangement of wooden spheres positioned along vertical spindles, introducing a playful rhythm to an otherwise utilitarian structure. The painted wood frame retains its original grey-green finish, which has aged with extensive surface wear, flaking, and patination. This condition imparts a highly textured visual effect that underscores the chair’s age and authenticity, presenting a surface history consistent with prolonged domestic or rustic use. The seat is crafted from tightly hand-woven hemp string in a traditional pattern, which remains structurally sound and evenly tensioned, showing only minor signs of wear and age.

While the designer remains unidentified, the form draws parallels with both the Arts and Crafts movement and early 20th-century Swedish folk design. The emphasis on handcrafted details, combined with the tall, axial composition of the backrest, evokes an aesthetic lineage shared with contemporaries such as Carl Malmsten or Axel Einar Hjorth, though more modest in ornamentation. The chair’s height and sculptural geometry also suggest possible influence from ecclesiastical or ceremonial seating traditions, repurposed within a domestic framework. This piece is in solid structural condition, with surface wear and finish loss contributing to its character rather than detracting from its integrity. It functions well as a side or accent chair, especially in contexts where patina and form are integral to the interior aesthetic.

The dimensions are 44 cm in width, 48 cm in depth, and 121 cm in height, with a seat height of 38 cm. In imperial measurements, this corresponds to approximately 17.3 inches wide, 18.9 inches deep, and 47.6 inches high, with a seat height of 15 inches. The chair stands as a singular expression of Scandinavian craftsmanship and design experimentation during the interwar years.