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Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

Seven midcentury furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

A range of furniture designs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s were relaunched during this year's Stockholm Furniture Fair – proving that the demand for midcentury icons is still strong.

Coinciding with Stockholm Design Week, the city's annual furniture fair is usually the place where the biggest Nordic brands showcase their newest collections.

However, this year's fair also featured a huge variety of old designs, many of which were being put back into production for the first time in decades.

A number of these came from established brands, like Carl Hansen & SonRepublic of Fritz Hansen and Erik Jørgensen, who often focus as much on heritage as they do on new launches.

But there were also several younger brands, who have also built their business model around the idea of fusing contemporary and retro design. Among these was Fjordfiesta, a young brand set up to make the designs of Norwegian designer Hans Brattrud relevant to a new generation.

The fair also saw the launch of an all-new brand, set up to give "a second chance" to designs that were popular in Nordic countries, but which were less well known around the world. Warm Nordic's inaugural collection features a range of both classic and contemporary products.

"With other people noticing the beauty and quality or the old classics, I couldn't bear the idea that iconic chairs by Hans Olsen and Knud Færch should only live their lives at international auctions," said brand founder Frantz Longhi.

Stockholm Furniture Fair took place in the Swedish capital from 6 to 10 February 2018.

Our pick of the best midcentury furniture launched includes designs by Arne Jacobsen and Hans Olsen. See all seven below:


Pot Chair by Arne Jacobsen, 1959 - Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

Pot Chair by Arne Jacobsen, 1959
Republic of Fritz Hansen

Fritz Hansen produces a range of famous designs by prolific Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, including the Egg and the Swan. This lesser-known lounge chair design, called the Pot, was created for the same client – the Radisson Royal Blu Hotel in Copenhagen.

The chair features a curved bowl-shaped seat, supported by slender metal legs.


Society Table by Arne Jacobsen, 1952 - Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

Society Table by Arne Jacobsen, 1952
Carl Hansen & Son

Carl Hansen & Son, best known as the manufacturer of Hans J Wegner's bestselling chairs, also launched an Arne Jacobsen design during the Stockholm Furniture Fair.

The Society Table is a simple writing desk, commissioned in 1952 as a one-off design for Danish shipyard Burmeister & Wain. It featues a tubular steel frame, a solid wood surface, an integrated desk lamp and two wooden storage compartments.


Hunting Table by Børge Mogensen, 1950 - Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

Hunting Table by Børge Mogensen, 1950
Carl Hansen & Son

Another relaunch from Carl Hansen & Son, this dining table was created by Danish designer Børge Mogensen with a hunting lodge in mind.

First exhibited at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers Guild Furniture Exhibition in 1950, the "masculine" design consists of two trestles, angular metal supports and a veneered wooden tabletop. It is available in oak and walnut.


Scandia Ottoman by Hans Brattrud, 1960 - Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

Scandia Ottoman by Hans Brattrud, 1960
Fjordfiesta

Norwegian brand Fjordfiesta has already launched a series of designs from designer Hans Brattrud. The latest, described by the company as "a true Scandinavian classic", is an ottoman designed as part of the popular Scandia collection.

With a seat and back made from strips of laminated lacquered wood, the chair is available in American walnut or American oak.


The Orange by Hans Olsen, 1950s - Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

The Orange by Hans Olsen, 1950s
Warm Nordic

Danish architect and industrial designer Hans Olsen is one of three "old masters" that Warm Nordic celebrates with its inaugural collection.

Among Olsen's best designs is The Orange, a lounge chair with matching curved panels for the seat and backrest. It comes in a range of finishes and fabrics, and can be specified in a mix of contrasting shades.


Balloon by Hans Olsen, 1950s - Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

Balloon by Hans Olsen, 1950s
Warm Nordic

Another design by Olson, Balloon is a chair with a cone-shaped suede seat, slender metal legs and simple wooden armrests.

Zigzagging supports connect the seat with the frame, ensuring the chair has a comfortable level of bounce.


Mid-century furniture designs relaunched at Stockholm Design Week

EJ 270 by Erik Jørgensen, 1970
Erik Jørgensen

This year saw Danish brand Erik Jørgensen relaunch a product it describes as "the archetypal, classic Danish box sofa". Designed by the company's namesake in 1970, the EJ 280 is a simple, modular sofa with large rectangular cushions.

The latest version of the sofa has a new name, Pure.