Carl Malmsten (1888–1972) devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by the cultural examples of the Swedish country manor and rustic styles — furniture endowed with a creative simplicity, a feeling for the wood itself, function in mind, and high technical quality. His light wooden furniture, with its blonde range of colours, has itself become an allegory for that which is typically Swedish, with strong references to Swedish nature and cultural traditions.
As a furniture maker he expressed both the old, inherited forms and new, bold ideas through his language of design. The result was always the same: beautiful, enduring individual pieces of furniture that together create a unified and harmonious feeling.
Malmsten’s influence on Swedish furniture design is particularly significant through the schools he founded, including Carl Malmsten Furniture Studies in Stockholm and Capellagården on the island of Öland — both still in operation, and the latter later the training ground of designers including Ingegerd Råman. It was Malmsten’s wish to restore elements of the old master–apprentice institution that united professionalism with an education in craftsmanship. Malmsten was an individualist who took a strong position against the functionalism that blossomed during the 1930s; as an alternative, he put forward a different program for the renewal of architecture and everyday goods, arguing for people’s right to experience beauty.
Carpenters educated at Carl Malmsten Furniture Studies in Stockholm manufacture the exclusive part of the program, guaranteeing the highest quality on every piece. The “CM” mark identifies furniture made this way — each piece extremely functional and a unique work of art, crafted with quality down to the smallest detail.
In the 1950s, Malmsten introduced a cooperative project, “Nyckelverkstäderna,” bringing together a number of highly qualified workshops. The project drew on the experience of industrial furniture manufacturing techniques without lowering the standards of artisanship and quality; the workshops that remain still manufacture the standard range of Malmsten furniture today.
Carl Malmsten never stopped creating, never stopped working. Until his death he remained head of his company and schools, still planning exhibitions and designing new furniture that carried a strong tradition into the future.
More design from Carl Malmsten:
Lilla Åland by Carl Malmsten Turns 80 – Stolab Marks the Anniversary
Lilla Åland 80 years Lilla Åland, the Windsor-style spindle chair designed by Carl Malmsten, has …
Stolab Graphic Original ™ collection is back
Stolab Graphic Original™ For the second year in a row, we have chosen furniture from …
Stolab Graphic Original™ 2019 – matt black solid oak
STOLAB GRAPHIC ORIGINAL™ Three of our classics in matt black solid oak We now present …
Caryngo collaboration between Carl Malmsten & Yngve Ekström
Caryngo easychair Caryngo was a rare collaboration between Carl Malmsten and Yngve Ekström, two of …
Swedese is relaunching three classic chairs by Yngve Ekström
Caryngo, Thema and Lamino Rattan at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2018 from the Swedese Archive …
Sitt skönt! frimärken med svensk stoldesign
Sitt skönt! Motiven är svensk stoldesign. Stolarna som visas är Hug (Anna von Schewen), Lilla …
Carl Malmsten – Designer and Educator
October 19 2013 – March 2 2014 A presentation of Carl Malmsten’s life’s work as …
Malmstens goes Malmö
Årets designskola 2013 ställer ut på Form/Design Center. 12/9 – 29/9 2013 Carl Malmsten Furniture …
Furniture Profile of the Year 2012 – Lars Bülow
Furniture Profile of the Year 2012 – Lars Bülow, CEO of Lammhults Möbler Swedish Furniture …