Carl-Axel Acking sideboard

This rare and large cabinet was designed by Carl-Axel Acking and produced by Bodafors in Sweden during the 1940s. It is executed in mahogany and teak with brass details, combining two fine hardwoods to achieve both strength and a refined aesthetic. The cabinet reflects Acking’s modernist approach, balancing functional rigor with a sense of elegance that characterized much of Scandinavian design in the mid-twentieth century.

The cabinet is constructed with a rectilinear form resting on slightly tapered legs, giving it a lifted and proportionate stance. The upper section features sliding doors with a tambour-like vertical rhythm, concealing adjustable shelving for storage. Below, two banks of drawers are symmetrically arranged, each fitted with brass drop handles. The combination of mahogany and teak provides a warm tonal variation, with the mahogany giving a darker and more formal character while the teak introduces lighter, more textured grain patterns.

Carl-Axel Acking was one of Sweden’s foremost architects and designers of the mid-century era. His work is known for its functional precision, restrained detailing, and sensitivity to materials. Acking collaborated with Bodafors, a prominent Swedish furniture manufacturer, on several designs that exemplify the nation’s embrace of modernism during the 1940s and 1950s. Bodafors was instrumental in elevating Scandinavian furniture design to international recognition, known for high-quality craftsmanship and innovative forms.

This piece is in good vintage condition with small signs of use and a developed patina, which enhances the richness of the wood surfaces. It is a strong example of early Scandinavian modern furniture that bridges the decorative tendencies of the 1930s with the more austere modernism of the postwar decades.

Dimensions: width 170 cm (66.9 in), depth 44 cm (17.3 in), height 139.5 cm (54.9 in)