Vintage Yngve Ekström furniture embodies the beauty and simplicity of the Scandinavian modern style. The Swedish designer, architect and woodworker created clean-lined hardwood pieces with sophisticated details and flourishes. He was known for his comfortable lounge chair designs as well as chic cocktail tables and handsome highboard cabinets.
Ekström was born in 1913 in Småland, home to Sweden’s oldest furniture factory, Hagafors Stolfabrik. After his father died, he began working at the factory. In 1945, Ekström and his older brother, Jerker Ekström, opened ESE Möbler, a furniture company headquartered in their hometown. In 1952, they received acclaim for their innovative Thema chair. The laminated veneer chair was packed flat for easy shipping so customers could assemble it at home. Ekström followed it with the 1955 Arka chair for the furniture manufacturer Stolab. A spindle backrest and spacious curved seat gave the chair comfort and style.
Ekström’s most popular design was the 1956 Lamino chair. Still in production, the minimalist wooden-frame chair features a sinuous and inviting profile with a high backrest. Looking back at his well-loved design, Ekström said: “To have designed one good chair might not be a bad life’s work.”
After Ekström’s brother left the company, he changed the name to Swedese. Ekström sold Swedese in 1974, but continued to design for it until he died in 1988. His furniture is in museum collections around the world, including the National Museum in Stockholm, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Victoria & Albert museum in London. In 1999, Swedish design magazine Sköna Hems named the Lamino chair the “20th-Century’s Best Swedish Furniture Design.”
Swedese, which still occupies its original building in Småland, partnered with artist Kustaa Saksi in 2017 to update the iconic Lamino chair.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Yngve Ekström seating, tables, storage cabinets and more.
Yngve Ekström "Småland" Dining Office Chair in Birch Produced in Sweden, 1950s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare sculptural Swedish wooden dining / office chair in birch by Yngve Ekström produced in Sweden, 1950s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H: 72,5 cm / 28.50" W: 53 cm / 20....
Birch
Set of 4 Chairs 'Thema' in Pine by Yngve Ekström, Swedese, Swedish Modern, 1954.
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese
Located in Odense, DK
This set of four "Thema" dining chairs, designed by Yngve Ekström for Swedese in 1954, showcases the elegance of Scandinavian mid-century modern design. Crafted in Sweden, each chair...
Pine
Set of Seven "SH41" Dining Chairs by Yngve Ekström, Sweden 1960s
By Nässjö Stolfabrik 1, Yngve Ekström
Located in Utrecht, NL
Wood is the most traditional material for furniture, it is organic, elemental, sturdy, and has become very stylish. The Swedish efforts to create applied art attuned to modern man an...
Wood
Set of Four Yngve Ekström Wooden Dining Chairs in Birch Produced in Sweden 1950s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare set of four wooden wooden dining chairs in birch by Yngve Ekström produced in Sweden, 1950s. In good original and matching condition. Dimensions: H: 72,5 cm / 28.50" W: 53 cm ...
Birch
Yngve Ekström Dining Chairs Model Thema Produced by Swedese in Sweden
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare set of 10 dining chairs model Thema designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced by Swedese in Sweden.
Wood, Pine, Lacquer
Set 4 YNGVE EKSTROM "Pinocchino" Stolab chair , black lacquer finish
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Buffalo, NY
Set 4 1950's accent Swedish Yngve Ekström "Pinnochio" chairs made by Hagafors. Features beautiful spindles and a large seat in juxtaposition. A beautiful example of Mid Century Swe...
Wood
Yngve Ekström Dining Chairs Model Knockdown Produced in Sweden
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare set of 8 dining chairs ‘Knockdown’ designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden.
Brass
Yngve Ekström Dining Chairs Model Knockdown Produced in Sweden
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare set of 4 dining chairs ‘Knockdown’ designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden.
Brass
$1,984 / set
H 36.62 in W 48.43 in D 31.5 in
Yngve Ekström for Swedese Single Sofa and Footstool, 1960s
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese
Located in Rochester, England
Yngve Ekström was one of the most important figures in the evolution of the Scandinavian Modernism movement and co-founder of the furniture design company Swedese. This living room ...
Fabric, Pine
$1,540Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Set of Four Wooden Chairs Designed by Oswald Haerdtl, 1950s
By Oswald Haerdtl
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Czechoslovakia - made of beech wood - manufacturer Ton Bystrice pod Hostýnem - complete restored
Beech
Yngve Ekström Pine Sofa, Swedese, Mid Century Modern, 1970s
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese
Located in Chicago, IL
Yngve Ekstrom Sofa, c. 1970 Swedese Pine frame, newly reupholstered in Knoll Textiles "Ferry - Whitehall" 27 1/2" H x 77 1/2" W x 30" D Condition: Very good overall condition. Pine ...
Pine
Pair of Swedese "Lamello" Easy Chairs, Yngve Ekström
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Swedese "Lamello" easy chairs, Yngve Ekström.
$2,632
H 39.77 in W 27.56 in D 30.71 in
Yngve Ekström Lamino Easy Chair by Swedese in Oak and Sheepskin 'Sahara'
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Tilburg, NL
Yngve Ekström Lamino easy chair by Swedese in Oak and 'Sahara' Sheepskin. New, design from 1956. The Lamino by Yngve Ekström is one of the most ic...
Sheepskin, Oak
$1,633
H 38.19 in W 26.78 in D 34.26 in
Scandinavian 1960s “Ruster” Lounge Chair by Yngve Ekström for Pastoe
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Paris, FR
The notable Ruster Danish lounge chair by Swedish designer Yngve Ekström and edited by Pastoe in the 1960s. The leather is in its original condition, the frame has been expertly re-f...
Leather, Teak
$3,500
H 37.01 in W 25.2 in D 34.26 in
Swedish Modern "Anders" Lounge Chair, Yngve Ekström, Birch & Saddle Girth, 1945
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Odense, DK
Rare "Anders" lounge chair by Yngve Ekström made in the late 1940s at his own workshop Swedese. The chair is made from solid birchwood with a beautiful warm patina and the original strong saddle girth. Designed in 1945 and produced in low numbers. Yngve Ekström was one of Sweden's most prominent furniture designers. He also worked as an architect and sculptor and designed logos, catalogs, and advertisements. Yngve Ekström began his career working in furniture factories, where he learned to work with wood. His furniture is characterized by straight, tight lines in bendable wood. Several of his designs are now considered design classics, such as the Lamino armchair, the Arka chair, and the Pinocchio chair...
Birch
$3,383 / set
H 38.19 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Yngve Ekström Fortino Lounge Chair & Ottoman in Original Sunflower by Swedese
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese
Located in Bochum, NRW
Original Sunflower Yellow Corduroy by Swedese, Sweden, 1960s A stunning example of Scandinavian design, this Fortino Lounge Chair with Ottoman by celebrated designer Yngve Ekström fo...
Velvet, Beech, Tapestry
$924Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.89 in W 17.33 in D 19.69 in
1950s Set of Four Restored Dining Chairs in Walnut, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- newly upholstered - carefully refurbished - beech skelet with walnut veneer
Fabric, Wood, Beech, Walnut
Yngve Ekström Pine Lounge Chair, Swedese, Mid Century Modern, 1970s
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese
Located in Chicago, IL
Yngve Ekstrom Lounge Chair, c. 1970 Swedese Pine frame, newly reupholstered in Knoll Textiles "Ferry - Whitehall" 37" H x 31" W x 30" D Condition: Very good overall condition. Pine ...
Pine
Set of Two Yngve Ekstrom Lamino Chair For Swedese 1970s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Čelinac, BA
Yngve Ekstrom Lamino Longue Chairs For Swedese 1970s
Fabric, Teak
1960s Yngve Ekström Lamino for Swedese Chair
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese
Located in Monrovia, CA
1960s Yngve Ekström Lamino chair for Swedese Scandinavian Modern design is stamped, Made In Sweden. A Scandinavian Modern Design of the 1960s by Yngv...
Brass
Yngve Ekström Set of Six 'SmåLand' Dining Chairs in Birch
By Yngve Ekström, Stolab
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of six chairs model Småland in birch by Yngve Ekström for Stolab, Sweden, 1950s. Highly comfortable set of six armchairs with an interesting open character. The chair is know fo...
Birch
Sold
H 33.47 in W 18.12 in D 15.75 in
Set of 6 Swedish chairs in curved solid elm and black skai by Yngve Ekstrom 1960
By Gemla, Yngve Ekström
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Beautiful Scandinavian chairs. Magnificent frame in curved solid elm. In the same spirit as Gio Ponti's Superleggera chair, these very elegant chairs are light and sturdy. Very high-...
Faux Leather, Elm
Sold
H 33.47 in W 18.51 in D 19.69 in
'Björka' Teak & Birch Spindle Dining Chairs by Yngve Ekström, Stolab, Set of 4
By Yngve Ekström, Stolab
Located in Karis, Nyland
Set of four dining chairs model "Björka" designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden by Stolab. Made from solid birch, seats of teak wood veneer. Beautiful grain and patina. Good v...
Birch, Teak
Sold
H 28.75 in W 21.66 in D 17.33 in
"Bobino" Solid teak spindle dining chairs by Yngve Ekström, Stolab 1960s
By Stolab, Yngve Ekström
Located in Hägersten, SE
Set of six dining chairs model "Bobino" designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden by Stolab during the early 1960s. Made from solid teak with beautiful grain and back rests made ...
Teak
Sold
H 31.75 in W 19 in D 18.5 in
6 Yngve Ekstrom Danish styled Teak Upholstered Dining Chairs for Swedese Sweden
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A set of six teak wood framed dining chairs with curved backs for comfort and seats reupholstered in a tightly woven contract Knoll fabric . These Minett styled chairs are a superb q...
Upholstery, Teak
vintage dining room chairs chairs 60s Troeds
By Yngve Ekström, Hugo Troeds
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage dining room chairs chairs 60s Troeds period 60's design Yngve Ekström Troeds model "Minett" Sweden condition good light signs of use size 81 x 48 x 50 (hxwxd) sea...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Sold
H 33.86 in W 17.92 in D 16.15 in
Set of two Gracell chairs design Yngve Ekström, Gemla Sweden 1950s
By Gemla, Yngve Ekström
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
Pair of “Gracell” chairs designed by Yngve Ekström for Gemla in 1956, period editions with rope seat. All in good condition, the black lacquer is cracked in places but the rope seat...
Rope, Wood
Sold
H 30.25 in W 19 in D 19 in
Set of Six (6) Restored "Kontiki" Dining Chairs by Yngve Ekstrom for Troeds, 70s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Deland, FL
Constructed from teak with lines reminiscent of the Model 57 and Model 77 chairs designed by Neils Moller. The Kontiki side chair proved to be one of Ek...
Teak
Sold
H 34.65 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
1960 Slim Beech Seagrass Dining Chairs by Yngve Ekström 'Gracell' by Gemla
By Gemla, Yngve Ekström
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Extremely rare and beautiful set of four slim seagrass chairs in beech, model 'Gracell' designed by Yngve Ekström and manufactured by Gemla. All four chairs are in very good conditio...
Seagrass, Beech
Set of 4 Yngve Ekstrom for Nesto V9 Spindle Back Chairs
By Yngve Ekström, Nesto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 Yngve Ekstrom, Model V9 dark stained spindle back chairs for Nesto. Lightly refinished with curved back, tapered legs and wide seat rest. In original condition with some vis...
Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Teak Scandinavian Modern Yngve Ekström Ruster Armchair for Pastoe
By Yngve Ekström, Swedese, Pastoe
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful and comfortable Ruster armchair designed by the Swedish designer Yngve Ekstrom for Swedese and sold in the Netherlands by Pastoe. It concerns t...
Wool, Teak
Sold
H 31.89 in W 17.72 in D 18.9 in
Teak Dining Chairs "Pinnockio" by Yngve Ekström for Stolab, Sweden, 1950s
By Yngve Ekström, Stolab
Located in Hägersten, SE
Set of ten "Pinnockio" dining chairs designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden by Stolab during the 1950s. Entirely made from solid old growth teak. Good vintage condition with s...
Teak