Ingvar Hildingsson

Ingvar Hildingsson is a Swedish woodworker and furniture maker from Rugstorp in Nybro municipality, best known for his handcrafted wooden stools produced through IH Slöjd. He began making stools in his workshop in 1976, developing a distinctive three-legged form with a thick circular seat and robust, angled legs. His work reflects a direct and material-focused approach to Swedish craft furniture, where solid wood, simple construction, and visible handwork are central.

Biography

Relatively little biographical information has been widely published about Ingvar Hildingsson, and his work is mainly documented through his stools, auction records, and vintage design references. He is associated with Rugstorp and Rockneby in Kalmar County, where his stools were produced and marked through IH Slöjd and Kalmar läns slöjdare.

Hildingsson began making wooden stools in his workshop in Rugstorp in 1976. The stools are typically made in solid wood, often pine, and are characterized by a round seat and three sturdy legs. Their construction is simple and functional, but the proportions, surface treatment, and visible wood grain give each piece a strong handmade character.

His stools are closely connected to the Swedish craft tradition, where everyday objects are shaped with durability, utility, and respect for the material. Rather than following an industrial furniture language, Hildingsson’s work emphasizes the natural qualities of the wood, including grain, knots, and tonal variation.

Over time, the stools have become increasingly sought after on the vintage and collectible design market, both in Sweden and internationally. What began as small-scale workshop production has developed into a highly recognizable body of work, appreciated for its simplicity, craftsmanship, and sculptural presence.