Bruno Mathsson

IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE where Swedish design would be today without architect and designer Bruno Mathsson. Considered by many to be one of greatest furniture designers of the 20th century, Mathsson helped usher in Swedish Modern style and influenced generations of designers with his emphasis on comfort and quality. Born in the town of Värnamo in 1907, it was clear early in his life that he was going to follow his own destiny. He was a keep-fit enthusiast and winter bather who spent much of the year sleeping outdoors in a specially constructed bed. To cope with the cold he wore a flying hat that he lined with balloon silk. His love of nature directly influenced his designs. He liked to use natural materials including linen, leather and wood. You won’t find many right angles in Mathsson’s designs. Instead, his organic creations were carefully shaped to fit the human body. To produce the perfect curve for a chair, for instance, he sat in a snowdrift and studied the shape left by his body.

THE INTERACTION between his furnishings and the people who use them remained important throughout his career. Mathsson and Eric Ljung of DUX met in the 1950s and become friends. Mathsson and DUX embarked upon a close creative partnership in the 1960s and 1970s. Mathsson devoted a lot of his time to research and development. He called it “the mechanism of sitting.” This resulted in furniture created with an uncompromising dedication to form and function. At DUX we’ve had the honour of producing our Jetson, Pernilla, Karin and Ingrid chairs since 1969. Today they are known throughout the world for their exceptional elegance and comfort. “Furnishings have to be produced with such skill that sitting in them involves no skill at all,” declared Bruno Mathsson. Adhering to this statement resulted in a range of iconic furnishings that will be loved for generations.