Ingvar Hildingsson stool

This handcrafted three-legged stool was designed and produced by Ingvar Hildingsson in Sweden during the 1940s. Made from solid birch, the piece embodies a Scandinavian mid-century design ethos that blends utility, organic form, and meticulous craftsmanship. The stool’s simplicity is balanced by a sculptural quality, reflecting a thoughtful synthesis of tradition and modernist ideals.

The stool features a thick, circular seat with gently beveled edges, supported by three conically tapering legs that angle outward subtly. These legs are integrated into the seat using traditional joinery techniques, providing structural solidity while maintaining a clean, visual simplicity. The natural finish highlights the warm tones of the birch wood, revealing a fine, even grain with subtle color variations from golden honey to light caramel.

On the underside, the stool bears a carved monogram “I.H” identifying Ingvar Hildingsson as the maker. It also carries a period manufacturer’s decal reading “Kalmar Läns Slöjdare” (Craftsmen of Kalmar County), confirming its regional Swedish origin. Hildingsson’s work is representative of postwar Swedish rural modernism, which draws on folk craft traditions while embracing mid-century modernism’s functional and aesthetic principles.

The stool is in very good vintage condition, showing minor wear consistent with age and use. There is no evidence of significant restoration or structural alteration. Its dimensions are 27 cm in diameter and 39 cm in height, approximately 10.6 inches in diameter and 15.4 inches in height.