Axel Einar Hjorth sideboard

This is a very rare and refined sideboard, model “Birka” designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) in Sweden. Created during the early 1930s, this piece exemplifies the Swedish take on functionalism, blending minimal ornamentation with attention to proportion, joinery, and material expressiveness.

The cabinet is constructed in solid ash, showcasing dramatic grain patterns across the three-door front, arranged to form a symmetrical composition that highlights the natural figure of the wood. The surface is finished in a warm amber tone with a light sheen, revealing the texture and undulating movement of the ash veneer. The vertical flanking ends and top corners are softly rounded, creating a monolithic but visually softened volume. The base features two substantial slab legs, also in ash, with rounded outer corners and flush integration into the carcass. The result is a piece that is robust in construction yet elegant in presence.

The interior is carefully appointed with high-quality details. On the left side, three pull-out drawers in lighter maple provide organized storage, with half-round molded wooden handles integrated into the front faces. The remaining compartments feature adjustable shelving, offering modular utility behind each of the lockable doors. The original keys remain present. The interior carries the manufacturer’s brass label and stamp, confirming provenance from Nordiska Kompaniet, Stockholm.

Axel Einar Hjorth was chief designer at Nordiska Kompaniet from 1927 to 1938. During his tenure, he developed a distinctive Swedish modern idiom that moved between restrained classicism and early modernism, before aligning more definitively with functionalist ideals. The Birka model belongs to a period where Hjorth emphasized geometric clarity and reduced profiles, in keeping with European modernist trends, yet always grounded in the artisanal cabinetmaking traditions of Sweden.

This sideboard is in excellent vintage condition, with minimal surface wear and a well-preserved finish. The hinges and locks function smoothly, and all structural elements remain tight and original. The expressive wood grain, soft edges, and architectural geometry make this an outstanding example of early Swedish functionalism.

The dimensions are 165 cm in width, 48 cm in depth, and 75 cm in height (equivalent to 65 x 18.9 x 29.5 inches).