Gustav Axel Berg easy chairs

This rare pair of easy chairs, model “Patronen” was designed by Gustav Axel Berg and produced in Sweden during the 1940s. They represent an important milestone in mid-century Scandinavian seating, combining modernist design principles with pioneering ergonomic innovations through bentwood construction.

The chairs feature laminated birch frames steam-bent into an elegant S-curve that flows continuously from the sled-style base, through the armrests, and into the backrest. The birch exhibits a warm honey tone with a natural matte finish, gently aged to a soft patina that enhances the wood’s texture. The seats and backrests are made from woven linen webbing in a natural beige, carefully stretched over the frame to conform to the sitter’s body, providing flexible support and comfort. The backs flare outward near the top, offering neck support and adding a sculptural dimension typical of Berg’s design language.

They are in good original condition, showing expected signs of vintage wear such as slight surface marks on the webbing, minor scuffs on the wood edges, and gentle tension fatigue in some weaving joints. Despite this, the structural integrity remains intact and the webbing retains its strength and flexibility, preserving the chairs’ authentic character without significant restoration.

Gustav Axel Berg was a pivotal figure in advancing laminated wood techniques and ergonomic furniture design in Sweden. His “Patronen” chairs are early and influential examples of cantilevered bentwood seating, contemporaneous with and influential to designers like Alvar Aalto and Bruno Mathsson. The chairs embody 1940s Scandinavian modernism, characterized by organic forms, tactility, and visual lightness.

Dimensions are 59.5 cm wide, 75 cm deep, and 95 cm high, with a seat height of 41 cm (23.4 x 29.5 x 37.4 inches, seat height 16.1 inches).