Swedish oak ‘Monterey’ sofa by Folke Ohlsson, c. 1960
Date: c. 1960
Materials: oak, linen mix
Artist/Designer: Folke Ohlsson (1919-2002) for Bodafors
Dimensions: 185cm long x 78cm deep x 72cm high
Code: BPA-00003
£3,250.00
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With slatted seat back and gently twisted arms, newly upholstered in Linwood French navy linen.
Swedish furniture designer Folke Ohlsson (1919-2002) is best remembered for his significant contribution to the widespread acceptance and popularity of Modern Scandinavian furniture in Mid Century America.
Born in 1919 and raised in Sweden, Ohlsson studied at the School of the Gothenburg Society of Industrial Design, which led to a job designing furniture for Dux in Malmo. In 1950, he travelled to the USA to assess the market for Scandinavian Furniture, moving there the following year. He immediately established Dux Incorporated In San Francisco as the US arm of its Swedish namesake. At the time, Dux was the Sweden’s largest manufacturer of upholstered furniture. Under Ohlsson’s design direction, Dux Inc. quickly gained considerable influence in the US market.
Dux achieved particular success when it introduced the ‘ready to assemble’ chair to the US market. Ohlsson patented his iconic design in 1949, and it went on to inspire versions by more than 100 furniture designers and manufacturers, and still does to this day. The company’s designs used Swedish wood and components with American upholstery.
In 1952, Ohlsson struck a deal with Canadian company A.P Madsen Ltd, who produced all of Dux’ designs under the label ‘Dux Modern’ until 1956, having merged with another company to become Restmore-Madsen in 1954.
Dux Inc. spent three years at its headquarters in San Francisco before Ohlsson moved the company to Burlingame, California in 1956. Over the years, the company solicited furniture designs from design heavyweights like Bruno Mathsson and Edward J Wormley, whilst simultaneously producing Ohlsson’s own designs.
Especially popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and highly collectable today, Ohlsson’s armchair and sofa designs are prized for their elegant blend of traditional detail and Modernist simplicity. Accordingly, he won more than thirty awards for his work, including Best Design in 1964’s Triennale Exhibition in Milan, as well as Sweden’s Royal Order of Vasa decoration, awarded by King Gustav VI Adolfo in the same year.
Folke Ohlsson died in Atherton, California, on 23rd October 2002.
Swedish furniture designer Folke Ohlsson (1919-2002) is best remembered for his significant contribution to the widespread acceptance and popularity of Modern Scandinavian furniture in Mid Century America.
Born in 1919 and raised in Sweden, Ohlsson studied at the School of the Gothenburg Society of Industrial Design, which led to a job designing furniture for Dux in Malmo. In 1950, he travelled to the USA to assess the market for Scandinavian Furniture, moving there the following year. He immediately established Dux Incorporated In San Francisco as the US arm of its Swedish namesake. At the time, Dux was the Sweden’s largest manufacturer of upholstered furniture. Under Ohlsson’s design direction, Dux Inc. quickly gained considerable influence in the US market.
Dux achieved particular success when it introduced the ‘ready to assemble’ chair to the US market. Ohlsson patented his iconic design in 1949, and it went on to inspire versions by more than 100 furniture designers and manufacturers, and still does to this day. The company’s designs used Swedish wood and components with American upholstery.
In 1952, Ohlsson struck a deal with Canadian company A.P Madsen Ltd, who produced all of Dux’ designs under the label ‘Dux Modern’ until 1956, having merged with another company to become Restmore-Madsen in 1954.
Dux Inc. spent three years at its headquarters in San Francisco before Ohlsson moved the company to Burlingame, California in 1956. Over the years, the company solicited furniture designs from design heavyweights like Bruno Mathsson and Edward J Wormley, whilst simultaneously producing Ohlsson’s own designs.
Especially popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and highly collectable today, Ohlsson’s armchair and sofa designs are prized for their elegant blend of traditional detail and Modernist simplicity. Accordingly, he won more than thirty awards for his work, including Best Design in 1964’s Triennale Exhibition in Milan, as well as Sweden’s Royal Order of Vasa decoration, awarded by King Gustav VI Adolfo in the same year.
Folke Ohlsson died in Atherton, California, on 23rd October 2002.