Bruno Mathsson lounge chair

This rare early lounge chair, designed by Bruno Mathsson and produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo, Sweden in 1939, is a seminal piece of Scandinavian modern furniture design. It reflects Mathsson’s pioneering work in ergonomics and his exploration of materials and form that would later define much of 20th-century Swedish modernism.

The chair is constructed with a sculptural bentwood frame made from birch, a material selected for its resilience and pale, natural tone. The frame is delicately curved, forming a continuous, flowing silhouette that cradles the body in a reclined position. The form is both aesthetic and anatomical, demonstrating Mathsson’s deep study of the human posture and how furniture could support it gracefully.

The seat and backrest are composed of webbing—woven straps of natural fiber—meticulously applied to form a flexible surface that adapts to the sitter’s body. The webbing provides a breathable and yielding support structure, enhancing comfort while preserving the visual lightness of the piece. The chair includes an integrated footrest, extending from the base in a single plane, and a high backrest, offering full-length support and reinforcing its function as a lounge chair.

Bruno Mathsson (1907–1988) was one of Sweden’s most influential designers and architects, known for his organic modernist style and experimental use of laminated wood. His early collaborations with his father’s workshop, Karl Mathsson, resulted in handcrafted, limited-production furniture that remains highly collectible today. This 1939 production represents one of the foundational designs in his career, prior to the mass production of his later models.

The dimensions of the chair are 50 cm in width, 150 cm in length, and 80 cm in height, with a seat height of 28 cm. In imperial units, this corresponds to approximately 19.7 inches wide, 59.1 inches long, 31.5 inches high, and 11 inches in seat height.