Swedish furniture designer Axel Einar Hjorth created tables, chairs, cabinets and other pieces that were as elegant as they were functional, and he frequently worked in references to a litany of inspirations including French Art Deco, Gustavian style and modernism. Ahead of his time, his style was refined and daringly simple.
Born in Krokek, Sweden, Hjorth grew up in a foster family and at 20 moved to Stockholm where he studied architecture and design at the Högre Konstindustriella Skolan (now the University of Arts, Crafts & Design). Although he dropped out when his foster father died, he went on to work for some of the largest furniture manufacturers in Sweden during the 1920s.
Hjorth’s work was featured in the 1923 Gothenburg Exhibition world’s fair, and he exhibited a birch and cherry cabinet in the 1927 “Swedish Contemporary Decorative Arts” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His role as the head of the furniture department at Nordiska Kompaniet (NK), an upscale department store in Stockholm, from 1927 to 1938, further brought his designs to widespread acclaim, including pieces exhibited at the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.
At the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition, an influential event in the emergence of functionalism in Swedish design, Hjorth exhibited a dozen room settings that featured examples of sportstugemöbler. These furniture lines were named for islands in Sweden’s archipelago — Utö, Blidö and Torö — with designs intended for cabins and vacation homes. The use of solid Swedish pine in these pieces revealed a love of traditional rustic furniture while the simple forms boldly looked to the future. He also brought his eclectic influences to armchairs formed from tubular metal, blocky case pieces made from birch and upholstered sofas with neoclassical details, each exuberantly mixing form and function.
Find vintage Axel Einar Hjorth furniture today on 1stDibs.
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Rocking Chair in Pine by Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden 1930
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and early Swedish mid century modern wooden rocking chair model "Lovö" in stained pine by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1932. In good original condition...
Sheepskin, Pine
$4,550Sale Price|25% Off
Rare Axel Einar Hjorth Rocking Chair for Nordiska Kompagniet. Signed 1928
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Ystad, SE
Rare Rocking Chair by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1928 A highly collectible and early documented example of Axel Einar Hjorth’s work for Nordiska Kompaniet, da...
Wicker, Oak
Pair of "Lovö" Chairs by Axel Einar-Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of low back 'Lovö' chairs by Axel-Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. Very good condition, new cushions.
Pine
$120,000
H 32.68 in W 84.65 in D 31.1 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "LOVÖ" sofa, Nordiska Kompaniet, with original cushions.
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in New York, NY
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930's with original cushions. The "Lövö" sofa by Axel Einar Hjorth is a masterful blend of comfort and sophistication, embodying the best o...
Pine
$22,000
H 28.75 in W 24.81 in D 25.99 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Typenco Club Chairs, Fabric, Birch, Nordiska Kompaniet, 1932
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beige fabric and birch "Typenco" club chairs designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1932. Seat Height (inches): 17.25" Arm Height (inc...
Fabric, Birch
$25,665
H 28.75 in W 66.34 in D 26.78 in
Axel Einar Hjorth Velvet Sofa, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sofa designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s. Velvet Upholstery. Dimensions: H: 73 cm / 2' 4 3/4'' W: 168.5 cm / 5' 6 1/4'' D: 68 cm / 2' 2 3/4'' Depth of the corner side: 136 cm / 4' 5 1/2'' SH: 43 cm / 17'' Provenance: Fredrik Anderzon who was the manager of the brewery Nässjö Bryggeri commissioned a modernist summerhouse in 1936 and this sofa formed part of the interior. Literature: A high back chair that matches this model, Christian Björk, Thomas Ekström...
Upholstery, Velvet
$5,833
H 31.5 in W 17.72 in D 15.95 in
Axel Einar Hjorth - Utö Dining Chair - produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hasselt, VLI
Axel Einar Hjorth “Utö” Dining Chairs - price per piece (5pcs in total avaible). These chairs, part of the Utö expo designed by Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden. T...
Wood, Pine
$15,575
H 32.29 in W 16.54 in D 17.33 in
Four ‘Corall’ chairs designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1937
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
A set of four chair model ‘Corall’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden 1937 Birch, rattan, upholstered velvet seat. Labeled. This set of four ‘Corall’ chai...
Velvet, Rattan, Birch
Pair of "Lovö" Chairs by Axel Einar-Hjorth, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare pair of low back 'Lovö' chairs by Axel-Einar Hjorth. Produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s. Very good condition, original cushions.
Pine
Pair of Lovö Chairs by Axel Einar Hjorth
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The beautiful Lovö Chair is an exceptionally treasured vintage find. Designed in the 1930s by Axel Einar Hjorth as part of his ‘Sportstugemöbler’ (weekend cottage or lodge furniture) collection for Nordiska Kompaniet, the models in the beloved Lovö series are regarded by many as Axel Einar Hjorth's masterpieces. Crafted for the weekend cottages that were gaining popularity in Sweden at the time, each series is lovingly named after a Swedish island. Crafted from solid stained pine, their rich cherry tone exudes a timeless appeal. The green and blue floral vintage cushions...
Pine
Axel Einar Hjort Style Swedish Hand-Made Pine Rocking Chair
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish hand-made pine rocking chair in the style of Axel Einar Hjorts furniture. The rocking chair is in good vintage condition consistent with the age and has minor traces of use. ...
Pine
$106,000
H 34.26 in W 78.94 in D 29.93 in
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet 'Lovö' Sofa in Solid Pine and Wool
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 'Lovö' sofas, model '36290', solid pine, reupholstered in “Nestor” (wool, mohair, alpaca mix) by Pierre Frey, Sweden, design 1932, made 1930...
Wool, Pine
Axel Einar Hjorth Lovö chairs
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Rare "Lovö" high back pine chair by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in 1930s. In the 1930s, Hjorth designed a furniture collection out of pine meant for serial prod...
Pine
$56,500
H 32.09 in W 30.32 in D 36.03 in
Rare Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet 'Typenko' Lounge Chair
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, lounge chair from the 'Typenko' series, model '36100', reupholstered in wool “Tyrone Rouge” by Pierre Frey, and suede, nickel-plated brass, ...
Steel, Nickel
Sold
H 37.41 in W 22.05 in D 19.69 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Rare Rocking Chair Model Lovö ca 1939 for Nordiska Kompaniet
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
Rare rocking chair designed by Axel Einar Hjorth in the 30's and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet during around 1939. The chair is made in solid pine from Sweden. Its structure is inta...
Pine
Sold
H 34.65 in W 24.81 in D 38.98 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Rocking Chair in Solid Pine Produced in Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare rocking chair model "Lovö" in solid stained pine designed by Axel Einar Hjorth and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm during the 1930s. In good vintage and original con...
Fabric, Pine
Sold
H 37.8 in W 22.84 in D 28.15 in
Axel Einar Hjorth, Unique Custom Made Rocking Lounge Chair, Pine NK Sweden 1940s
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in High Point, NC
A unique custom made rocking chair, in pine and pine plywood. Custom produced by Nordiska Kompaniet for a Swedish vacation house completed in 1937. This custom example with highe...
Pine
Sold
H 32.68 in W 21.66 in D 24.41 in
Axel-Einar Hjorth 'Lovö' Rocking Chair for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
This rare rocking chair is part of the 'Lovo¨' series designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for the high-end Stockholm-based Nordiska Kompaniet department store in 1932. Executed in pinewood...
Pine
Sold
H 33.86 in W 24.41 in D 36.23 in
Axel Einar Hjorth 'Lovö' Rocking Chair for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1932
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare rocking chair is part of the 'Lovö' series designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for the high-end Stockholm-based Nordiska Kompaniet department store in 1932. Executed in pinewood,...
Wool, Pine