Although prolific Swedish architect and designer Mats Theselius moves freely between creating furniture, lighting, objects, installations, exhibitions, set designs, and more, he is perhaps best known for his innovative armchairs. Described by critics as “surprising and ingenious,” Theselius is responsible for some of the most noteworthy furniture designs of the 1980s and 1990s.
Born in 1956 in Stockholm, Theselius attended the city’s prestigious Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts and Design), where he studied Interior Architecture. After graduating in 1984, he worked at various architecture firms in Stockholm.
In 1985, Theselius debuted a cylindrical club chair upholstered with elk leather. The chair’s unique, molded curved frame, which served as a backrest and armrests, became a signature design characteristic of many of Theselius’s seating pieces. He partnered with entrepreneur Sven Lundh, and Lundh’s company, Källemo, produced a limited-edition variation of this seat, the Älgskinnsfåtöljen chair, in 1991. The Iron/Suede lounge chair followed in 1994.
Another iconic Theselius piece is the National Geographic bookcase. Made of beech with glass doors and brass detailing, the bookcase features shelves sized to accommodate 25 years' worth of National Geographic magazines. For its debut in 1988, Theselius painted the bookcase the same recognizable yellow color that typically frames the cover of the publication.
While working on furniture design and other projects, Theselius served as a professor at the HDK – Academy of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg from 1995 to 1996. He has also collaborated with several well-known Swedish and European manufacturers in addition to Källemo, including String, Marrakech Design, Minus-tio and David Design.
Throughout his career, Theselius’s works have garnered critical acclaim and won numerous awards. Among them are the Red Dot Design Award, the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize, the Wallpaper Design Award and the King of Sweden’s Prince Eugen Medal (2018). Theselius also received the Bruno Mathsson Award in 1997, which is named for the revered Swedish master cabinetmaker. Theselius is said to have created his coveted Bruno armchair immediately afterward.
Today, Theselius’s pieces can be found in the permanent collections of the National Museum in Stockholm, the State Russian Museum in Moscow and the Danish Museum of Art and Design in Copenhagen.
Find vintage Mats Theselius seating, case pieces, storage cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Established in 2006, Morentz has a team of approximately 55 restorers, upholsterers, interior advisers and art historians, making it a gallery, workshop and upholstery studio, all in one. Every day, a carefully selected array of 20th-century furniture arrives from all over the world at the firm’s warehouse, where the team thoroughly examines each piece to determine what, if any, work needs to be done. Whether that means new upholstery or a complete restoration, Morentz's aim is always to honor the designer’s intention while fulfilling the wishes of the client. The team is up to any challenge, from restoring a single piece to its original glory to furnishing a large-scale hotel project.
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB Limited Edition 'Järn Mocca' Lounge Chair
By Mats Theselius
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, 'Järn/Mocca' lounge chair, suede, patinated iron, stained beech, Sweden, 1994 The distinct 'Järn/Mocca' lounge chair is created by the Swedish desig...
Iron
Mats Theselius for Källemo Ab Limited Edition Lounge Chair 'El Dorado' in Brass
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, lounge chair 'El Dorado’, brass, birch, nubuck leather, Sweden, 2002 This distinct 'El Dorado’ lounge chair by Mats Theselius was designed in 2002 for...
Brass
Mats Theselius for Källemo Ab Limited Edition Lounge Chair 'El Dorado' in Brass
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, lounge chairs 'El Dorado’, limited edition, brass, birch, nubuck leather, Sweden, 2002 This distinct 'El Dorado’ lounge chair by Mats Theselius was de...
Brass
Jens Risom 'Vostra' Lounge Chair in Canvas Webbing
By Jens Risom, Walter Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jens Risom for Walter Knoll, 'Vostra' chair, beech, canvas, brass, United States, design 1941, production 1950s An elegant lounge chair featuring exquisite canvas webbing, this piec...
Brass
Bas Van Pelt Patinated Tubular Armchair in Metal and Sisal
By Bas Van Pelt
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bas van Pelt, armchair, metal, sisal, The Netherlands, 1930s. This original comfortable chair is designed by the Dutch interior and furniture designer Bas van Pelt (1900-1945) and was manufactured by E.M.S. Overschie. The construction of this particular chair is made of chromed tubular metal frames, giving it a sleek appearance. But then the seat and armrests have a warm appearance due to the coarsely woven fabric ‘sisal’. The design shows traits of the aesthetics by Bauhaus. The seat has discoloration and the metal shows signs of use, which contribute to the authentic look. Bastiaan Johannes van Pelt (1900-1945) was a Dutch furniture designer and interior designer. As son of a book printer, he spend his time after school working in several printing companies in Holland. At that time he already engaged in topics like designing furniture, interiors, carpets and fabrics, graphic work and pottery. In 1927, he quit his old job and started to work at a furniture factory owned by his father-in-law J.C. Jansen in Overschie. Together with his brother-in-law, Jan Jansen...
Metal
Swedish Safari Armchair in Natural Cognac Leather and Birch
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Nordiska Kompaniet, armchair, leather, birch, Sweden, 1950s This elegant safari lounge chair is crafted from natural cognac brown leather, which has developed a beautiful patina ove...
Leather, Birch
Mats Theselius 'Aluminium Chair' Edition 3-50/200 by Källemo, 1990
By Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare chair by Mats Theselius produced by Källemo 1990 in a limited edition of 50 chairs, this is example is number 3. Aluminum, beech, seat and back upholstered with braided bir...
Steel
Organic "Art Deco" Lounge Chair in Birch and Traditional Bark, Finland 1940s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A stunning organic modern armchair made of birch and birch bark from Finland, circa 1940s. The original Art Deco model of this form was introduced to Finland by Asko in the mid 1930s...
Birch
Organic Modern "Rehtori" Armchair in Birch and Traditional Bark, Finland 1940s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A stunning organic modern armchair made of birch and birch bark from Finland, circa 1940s. The original Art Deco model of this form was introduced to Finland by Asko in the mid 1930s...
Birch
Mats Theselius Limited Edition Järn Mocca Lounge Chair by Källemo, Sweden, 1994
By Mats Theselius, Källemo
Located in Ghent, BE
Inspired by Stockholm’s Army Museum and the Swedish Royal Armoury, this sculptural yet functional lounge chair embodies Theselius’ signature style, defined by bold forms and inventiv...
Iron
Mats Theselius 'Aluminium Chair' Edition 163/200 by Källemo, 1990s
By Mats Theselius
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare chair produced by Källemo 1990 in a limited edition of 200 chairs, this is example is number 163. Original leather, wood, steel and aluminium.
Steel
Post-Modernist "Moose Skin Lounge Chair", Mats Theselius, Källemo, Sweden, 1991
By Källemo, Mats Theselius
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Iconic post-modernist lounge chair by Mats Theselius, modell called “Älgskinnsfåtölj” (“Moose skin lounge chair”). Designed in 1985, this chair is number 33 in a series of 360. Buil...
Sheet Metal
The Mats Theselius design looks like a rebel but is a practical piece you can settle down with.
Gunnel Nyman was known as a glass artist, but this piece is a striking example of her early training in furniture design.
