Yngve Ekström - Swedish Designer Extraordinaire

One major component of the 20th century home furnishings industry was Scandinavian design. While that movement featured many noteworthy figures, including Bruno Mathsson, Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen, perhaps one of the most memorable is Yngve Ekström, who was born in Hagafors, Smaland, Sweden in 1913.

The city of Hagafors in Sweden has a tradition of making furniture (möbler), which goes back a long time and a young Yngve Ekström was naturally drawn to an industry which was all around him. Like many Scandinavian designers, he not only studied the practice of wood crafting but also the theory of the evolution of the art through its history. He also studied aesthetics like painting and sculpture and these elements are reflected in his work.

In 1945 he and his bother Jerker founded Swedese, one of the most respected makers of modern furnishings in the world. He remained active in the company until his death, a career of more than forty years. Products from Swedese included elegant artistic pieces for the home, but the clean profiles and utilitarian construction also made their wares popular in upscale offices and business applications.

Possibly Ekström's most famous piece was the Lamino chair, first produced in the 1950's and still in production and popular now. The Lamino chair was actually named the best Swedish chair of the Twentieth Century by a Swedish design magazine in 1999 and received another significant award, the Design Innovation, by the I.M.M. in Cologne in 2003.

This chair has attractive curves viewed from the side as well as seen head on and often is sold with a matching ottoman. It can be made in a wide variety of woods for the frame and the upholstery can also match nearly any desire or taste, from sheepskin to woven cloth webbing. The versatility and simple good looks have contributed to the long popularity and the chairs sell well in the two to three thousand dollar range for new models. Earlier examples have sold for much more.

In 1988, when Yngve Ekström passed away, he was still designing and running his company. His legend was enhanced by his ability to produce creative innovations. His designs fit in with a multitude of styles and are staples in decorating. They look gorgeous with hardwood floors. His designs were considered innovative when they were first designed, but they are now known as furniture design classics.

Yngve Ekström was a Scandinavian furniture designer, born in Hagafors, Smaland, Sweden in 1913. He studied wood crafting and design along with courses in art history, drawing, and sculpture. He and his brother, Jerker, created Swedese in 1945. The company has become one of the most respected producers of modern furniture and decor in the world. The Lamino Chair, which is probably his best known piece, was originally created in the 1950's. This chair is still being made today and is a much sought after piece for many modern interiors (inredning). The talented designer remained active not only in design, but also in leading his company, until his death in 1988.

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