Gösta Berg easy chair

This is a very rare lounge chair with matching footstool, model Måsen (The Seagull), designed by Gösta Berg and produced by Fritz Hansen in Denmark in 1971. The design is a striking example of early 1970s Scandinavian modernism, merging expressive organic form with technical materiality.

The chair and stool both feature a sculptural fiberglass-reinforced seat shell, fully upholstered in dark brown leather. The leather on the chair shows signs of age and wear, including patina and surface creasing, indicative of original use. The stool has been reupholstered in matching leather, achieving a visual and material consistency with the chair while differentiating slightly in sheen and tone due to its newer condition. The leather’s color is a deep reddish-brown, and the surface exhibits a supple, aged quality.

The form of the chair evokes avian contours, with upward-swept armrests and a curved, enveloping seat profile that tapers toward the base. This aerodynamic silhouette, combined with the long integrated headrest and the bolster cushion, gives the piece both visual dynamism and ergonomic support. The accompanying footstool mirrors the seat curvature and is proportionally scaled for comfort and balance.

Both elements are supported by chromed steel bases consisting of four bent legs mounted to a central column, offering stability and a modernist, industrial contrast to the organic shape of the seating. The base for both the chair and stool terminates in flared, crescent-shaped feet that enhance the weight distribution and visual lightness.

Gösta Berg was a Swedish designer known for his contribution to progressive furniture forms in the postwar decades. The Måsen is among his most distinctive and futuristic creations, aligning with the period’s interest in space-age aesthetics and molded materials.

Fritz Hansen, the Danish manufacturer, is one of the foremost producers of Scandinavian modern furniture. Established in the 19th century and still active today, the company collaborated with some of the most influential designers of the 20th century, including Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjærholm, and Verner Panton. This particular model is marked with Fritz Hansen labels and Danish furniture control tags, confirming its authenticity.

The lounge chair measures 94 cm wide, 100 cm deep, and 88.5 cm high with a seat height of 39 cm (37 x 39.4 x 34.8 inches, seat height 15.4 inches). The stool measures 58 cm wide, 49 cm deep, and 41 cm high (22.8 x 19.3 x 16.1 inches). The set is a rare collector-grade item, combining sculptural innovation with mid-century material integrity.