Yngve Ekström dining chairs

This is a rare set of four dining chairs designed by Yngve Ekström in Sweden during the 1950s. Known as the “Knockdown” model, these chairs are constructed with a focus on modular design, enabling them to be disassembled, which was both innovative and practical in mid-century Scandinavian furniture production.

The chairs feature a sculptural silhouette characterized by a gently curved teak plywood seat and backrest, seamlessly formed into a continuous shell. The seat exhibits rich brown tones with visible grain and subtle patina, reflecting the age and natural character of the wood. The base structure is composed of black lacquered solid wood legs arranged in a distinctive angular configuration, enhancing both visual dynamism and structural integrity. The joinery between the seat and base is accented by visible brass fittings, contributing subtle but deliberate detail.

The overall condition of the set is very good with signs of age-appropriate wear, including minor surface marks to the seat and base, and light fading in areas consistent with decades of careful use. The chairs remain structurally sound and retain their original finishes.

Yngve Ekström (1913–1988) was a central figure in post-war Swedish modernism. His work is recognized for its refined simplicity, ergonomic attention, and innovative material use. Ekström co-founded the furniture company Swedese in 1945, and while these chairs predate many of his most commercially successful designs such as the Lamino chair, they clearly illustrate his early experiments with plywood and modular construction techniques.

Each chair measures 49.5 cm wide by 51 cm deep and 88.5 cm high, with a seat height of 45 cm. In inches, this translates to approximately 19.5 inches wide by 20 inches deep and 34.8 inches high, with a seat height of 17.7 inches.