Bruno Mathsson easy chairs

A pair of easy chairs with matching stools, model Pernilla, designed by Bruno Mathsson and produced by Karl Mathsson AB in Värnamo, Sweden, in 1962. The chairs and stools are executed in laminated birch with the original webbing, a hallmark of Mathsson’s approach to ergonomic seating and organic form. The laminated frame demonstrates the lightness and strength characteristic of Scandinavian bentwood furniture, with smooth curves that follow the body’s natural lines.

The seating surfaces are constructed from wide woven webbing in a natural tone, creating a flexible yet supportive structure. The high backrest of the chairs extends in a continuous flowing shape, with elegantly curved armrests integrated into the frame. The stools echo the same design language, with low, arched legs and a webbed surface designed to complement the reclined posture of the chairs. The natural materials have developed a warm patina over time, showing signs of use that emphasize the authenticity and age of the pieces.

Bruno Mathsson, one of Sweden’s most important modernist designers, was deeply invested in the study of human posture and comfort. His work for Karl Mathsson AB, the family-owned company, produced some of the most iconic Scandinavian furniture of the twentieth century. The Pernilla model, developed in the 1940s and refined in later decades, is named after a woman Mathsson considered a muse, reflecting his personal as well as professional commitment to comfort and usability. The 1962 production date of this pair situates them within the period when Mathsson’s work had achieved wide international recognition.

The style is distinctly mid-century Scandinavian, characterized by functionalist principles, natural materials, and elegant craftsmanship. These pieces embody Mathsson’s philosophy that seating should follow the natural shape of the body, combining innovative use of bentwood techniques with simple, honest construction.

Dimensions chair: width 64 cm (25.2 in), depth 98 cm (38.6 in), height 91 cm (35.8 in), seat height 37 cm (14.6 in)
Dimensions stool: width 50.5 cm (19.9 in), depth 65 cm (25.6 in), height 40 cm (15.7 in)