Sigurd Resell

Sigurd Resell (1920–2010) was a Norwegian furniture and interior designer whose work combined a strong understanding of craftsmanship with clear, functional construction. Active during the post-war period, he became an important figure in Norwegian furniture design and is particularly associated with Rastad & Relling and, later, Vatne Møbler.

Biography

Resell initially trained as a carpenter before studying at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Oslo from 1943 to 1947. His background in woodworking remained central to his approach as a designer, with construction, materials and functionality playing an important role throughout his career.

After completing his studies, Resell joined the design office Rastad & Relling, where he worked until 1968, apart from a period between 1953 and 1956. During these years he developed a wide range of furniture characterized by balanced proportions and logical construction. His work ranged from more traditional wooden furniture to designs that reflected an increasingly international modernist vocabulary, including experiments with steel and other industrial materials.

In 1970, Resell entered the Norwegian Industry Council's furniture competition A Piece of Furniture, where his Blankvals armchair received second prize. The design was subsequently developed into the Falcon chair and produced by Vatne Møbler. Introduced in the early 1970s, Falcon became Resell's best-known design, distinguished by its suspended seat and sculptural supporting frame.

Throughout his career, Resell received numerous awards in competitions and exhibitions in Norway and abroad. His furniture reflects the development of post-war Scandinavian design, combining traditional craftsmanship with an interest in modern construction and production methods. Today, his work—particularly the Falcon chair—is regarded as an important contribution to twentieth-century Norwegian furniture design.