Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Swedish, 1907-1988

As the descendant of four generations of Swedish master cabinetmakers, Bruno Mathsson was born to design furniture. Mathsson was known as a methodical perfectionist who made usefulness the fundamental attribute of his iconic lounge chairs, tables, armchairs and other works, yet he was also a ceaseless experimenter, who constantly searched for improvements in form, materials and methods of design.

Like the Finnish designer Alvar Aalto, Mathsson was one of the first Scandinavians to embrace undulating, biomorphic forms in furniture. His early pieces such as the Eva and Pernilla series of chairs incorporate dramatically flowing bent beechwood frames, making them some of the most instantly recognizable works of 20th-century design.

Mathsson was also a pioneer of ergonomics — he is said to have based the contours of his chairs on the impression his body made when he sat in a snow bank — and used supple, accommodating woven webbing for seats. His concern for practicality is shown by pieces such as the Maria table. An elegant design with gate legs and hinged leaves, the table measures more than nine feet long when fully extended, but folds down to just nine inches in thickness.

From the mid-1940s through the 1950s, Mathsson focused on architecture, designing and building houses with insulated, triple-glazed window walls and heated floors — construction that flew in the face of traditional wood-clad Swedish residential design, and consequently met with some skepticism. He returned to furniture in the 1960s, employing an entirely new suite of materials: Stainless-steel framing and mesh seats feature in pieces like the Jetson chair; with the mathematician Piet Hein, Mathsson designed the Super-Elliptical table, which has a laminate top and four-part tubular steel legs that sprout like flower stems from a single base.

Bruno Mathsson’s stylistic flexibility as a designer made him a creator whose pieces meet all tastes and needs.

Find vintage Bruno Mathsson dining tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Creator: Bruno Mathsson

Bruno Mathsson reading stand, Karl Mathsson 40's Sweden modernist collector

$4,648Sale Price|20% Off

Bruno Mathsson reading stand, Karl Mathsson 40's Sweden modernist collector

By Firma Karl Mathsson, Bruno Mathsson

Located in Forest, BE

Table de lecture en bois et acier nickelé. Daté du début des années 1940. La tablette en bois a été restaurée mais la patine du piétement reste non touché et dans son état le plus proche de l'origine. Ajustable en hauteu. Il y à de beaux détails en laiton. Produite dans les ateliers de son père Karl Mathsson...

Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Ultra Rare Wall Secretary

$15,109

Ultra Rare Wall Secretary

By Bruno Mathsson

Located in Munich, DE

Designed by Bruno Mathsson in 1938 and made by Karl Mathsson. There is a common version in birch. This one is in masur birch! Located in hamburg.

Category

1930s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Beautiful Sloping Flap Secretary / Roll-Up Secretary, 20th Century

$3,358

H 43.31 in W 37.41 in D 21.66 in

Beautiful Sloping Flap Secretary / Roll-Up Secretary, 20th Century

Located in Berlin, DE

Beautiful sloping flap secretary / roll-up secretary, 20th century Wood veneered with tulip wood and partially inlaid. High-quality workmanship on short square legs, straight four...

Category

20th Century Italian Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Tulipwood

19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan

$7,700

H 52 in W 48 in D 20 in

19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan

By Karl Johan

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...

Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique French Secretary

$8,499

H 59 in W 35 in D 17 in

Antique French Secretary

Located in Malibu, CA

This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...

Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Other

Mid-Century Modern Wall Secretary Desk in Oak

$4,125 / item

H 20.28 in W 31.5 in D 6.7 in

Mid-Century Modern Wall Secretary Desk in Oak

By Galerie Møbler 1

Located in Courbevoie, FR

Wall secretary desk, model Odense. Oiled solid oak. Natural leather interior full grain untreated. Designed by Møbler Gallery. Made in France by ma...

Category

2010s French Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

A rare wall-mounted secretary desk - 1950s French Reconstruction Style

$2,487

H 35.44 in W 27.17 in D 11.82 in

A rare wall-mounted secretary desk - 1950s French Reconstruction Style

By Roger Landault, Pierre Guariche, Rene Gabriel, Marcel Gascoin

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

A rare 1950s wall-mounted secretary desk in the French Reconstruction style. Crafted from solid oak and oak veneer, this piece combines elegance and functionality. Its drop-down fron...

Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Swedish Rococo Style Secretary Hutch

$3,895

H 78 in W 41 in D 21 in

Swedish Rococo Style Secretary Hutch

Located in Hollywood, FL

This is a unique Swedish Rococo Secretary Hutch. Its been restored and repainted with Milk paints "Mint Green" its 2 piece, top and bottom. desk height when open 25" from the ...

Category

1950s Swedish Rococo Vintage Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Mid-Century Modern Wall Secretary Desk in Walnut

$5,346 / item

H 20.28 in W 31.5 in D 6.7 in

Mid-Century Modern Wall Secretary Desk in Walnut

By Galerie Møbler 1

Located in Courbevoie, FR

Wall secretary desk, model Odense. Oiled solid walnut. Natural leather interior full grain untreated. Designed by Møbler Gallery. Made in France by...

Category

2010s French Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Antique Georgian Mahogany Bookcase Secretary Collectors Doctors Cabinet 1790

$9,500

H 90.5 in W 45 in D 22 in

Antique Georgian Mahogany Bookcase Secretary Collectors Doctors Cabinet 1790

Located in Portland, OR

A very rare antique George III English Mahogany secretary bookcase, with a fitted collector's or doctor's cabinet to the base, circa 1790. The bookcase in two sections; the top section with a flared cornice with a frieze of dentil molding below, the bookcase with twin glazed doors with intersecting curvilenear astragals, the doors enclosing a pair of adjustable shelves. The base having a deep drawer with a locking fall front desk, fitted with a tooled & gilded leather writing surface, and a fitted interior with pigeonholes with removable doors and drawers each fitted with an oval gilded name label. Below are a pair of locking doors enclosing an elaborately fitted interior; comprising one long shallow tray shaped drawer above a host of 13 drawers of various sizes, all with the original brass hardware and corresponding oval gilded name tag, to the left side is a file space. The secretary bookcase is raised on bracket feet with a shaped skirt, it is made from the finest figured Cuban mahogany, all original finish and hardware. Georgian bookcase secretaries...

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1790s English Georgian Antique Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Rare Antique Federal American Mahogany Secretary Writing Desk Gothic Bookcase

$4,812Sale Price|30% Off

H 77 in W 44.25 in D 21 in

Rare Antique Federal American Mahogany Secretary Writing Desk Gothic Bookcase

Located in Dayton, OH

A fine and impressive Federal Period Mahogany secretary and bookcase, circa 1830s. The bookcase features an eighteen pane gothic arched cabinet fro...

Category

Early 19th Century American Federal Antique Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Shelf ‘Book crib’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, 1961

$5,811

H 10.04 in W 19.69 in D 11.03 in

Shelf ‘Book crib’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, 1961

By Bruno Mathsson

Located in Stockholm, SE

Shelf ‘Book crib’ model T-709 designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1961. Frame in elm, legs in laminated beech. Stamped. H: 25.5 cm / 10" L: 50 cm / 19 3/4'...

Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Beech, Elm

Swedish Modern Bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, 1940s

$11,041

H 42.92 in W 38.19 in D 18.12 in

Swedish Modern Bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, 1940s

By Otto Schulz, Boet

Located in Karlstad, SE

Very rare bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, circa 1940. This bureau is covered in cream white vinyl attached with pearl nails, significant for the designer. The skewed front is made o...

Category

20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Pine Secretary, Circa 1820-40

$5,100

H 79 in W 48.25 in D 19.25 in

Swedish Pine Secretary, Circa 1820-40

Located in Round Top, TX

It is the warm patina of the aged pine that draws one to this secretary with graceful Swedish country charm. Desktop rests on two extended arms. Desk opens reveals 8 small drawers an...

Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Previously Available Items

Writing Bureau Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1934

Sold

H 39.1 in W 41.34 in L 39.1 in

Writing Bureau Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1934

By Bruno Mathsson

Located in Stockholm, SE

Rosewood and birch.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Bruno Mathsson Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Rosewood

Bruno Mathsson secretaires for sale on 1stDibs.

Bruno Mathsson secretaires are available for sale on 1stDibs. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Bruno Mathsson secretaires, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original secretaires by Bruno Mathsson were created in the mid-century modern style in sweden during the 1930s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider secretaires by Kai Kristiansen, Børge Mogensen, and Arne Wahl Iversen. Prices for Bruno Mathsson secretaires can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $14,519 and can go as high as $14,519, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $14,519.