Axel Einar Hjorth armchair

This rare armchair is part of the “Caesar” model series designed by Axel Einar Hjorth in 1928 and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden. The chair is executed in antique patinated birch with finely detailed craftsmanship. The front legs are straight and square in profile, fitted with over-collars and terminating in stylized paw feet, while the rear legs curve elegantly backwards, providing both structural stability and visual dynamism. The arm supports are carved with scrolling motifs, reflecting the influence of neoclassical and Empire traditions in Hjorth’s early work.

The seat, back, and armrests are upholstered in a red-brown leather of the period, fastened with brass nail trim around the frame. The tall, semi-circular back is tufted with button details, giving a formal and stately presence. The combination of richly grained birch and warm-toned leather demonstrates Hjorth’s ability to merge Swedish materials with classical design elements. This particular example carries the Nordiska Kompaniet badge with the marking AB NORDISKA KOMPANIET R 33242 – 31 1 29, confirming its provenance and date of production.

The “Caesar” model was originally introduced as part of a furniture group that Nordiska Kompaniet presented at the World Exhibition in Barcelona in 1929. This exhibition was a pivotal event for Swedish design, and Hjorth’s contributions positioned him as a central figure in shaping Swedish modernism, bridging classical influences with a growing functionalist approach that would define his later work.

Condition is very good, with well-preserved leather showing natural patina and signs of age, consistent with its period. The birch structure remains solid, with detailed carving intact. This armchair is an important historical piece, representing Hjorth’s transition from neoclassical design language to the more modernist direction that would characterize his later and better-known works of the 1930s.

Dimensions are 116 cm in height, 71 cm in width, and 66 cm in depth, corresponding to 45.7 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 26 inches deep. The seat height is 48 cm, equal to 18.9 inches, and the arm height is 70 cm, equal to 27.5 inches.