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.
1960s Yngve Ekström Lamino for Swedese Chair
By Swedese, Yngve Ekström
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
$2,242
H 28.35 in W 22.84 in D 27.56 in
1960's Danish Lounge Chair by Ole Gjerlov Knudssen for France & Søn
By Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen and Torben Lind
Located in Paris, FR
A Mid-Century Modern Danish collectible cool low lounge chair designed Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen for France & Søn. The sleek teak frame and upholstery are impeccably restored by our atelie...
Upholstery, Teak
$2,200
H 38 in W 25.5 in D 38 in
Vintage 'Fortino' High Back Lounge Chair by Yngve Ekström for Swedese
By Swedese, Yngve Ekström
Located in Raleigh, NC
Mid-century ‘Fortino’ high back armchair designed by Yngve Ekström for Swedese. This Swedish design features a connected bentwood beech wood frame. The frame is the most impressive f...
Fabric, Upholstery, Foam, Beech, Bentwood
$1,286
H 38.19 in W 26.78 in D 32.29 in
1970s, Norwegian design by Peter Opsvik for Westnofa, highback armchair.
By Westnofa Furniture, Peter Opsvik
Located in Tarm, 82
1970s, Norwegian design by Peter Opsvik for Westnofa. Highback armchair with adjustable back. Original green furniture wool, dark oak wood, brown canvas. Original good condition: no ...
Leather, Canvas, Beech
Yngve Ekstrom Lamino Lounge Chair
Located in Vosselaar, BE
The "Lamino" easy chair is a iconic design of Yngve Ekstrom. He developed this lounge chair for Swedese as a highly comfortable chair with clean sensual lines. As this a one of the e...
Wool, Hardwood
$2,761
H 29.93 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Yngve Ekström ‘Ruster’ Oak Lounge Chair for Swedese / Pastoe 1960s Scandinavian
By Pastoe, Swedese, Yngve Ekström
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
This highly sought after ‘Ruster’ armchair was designed by Yngve Ekström for Swedese, Sweden in the 1950s. By the 1960s, the Ruster model was included in the Pastoe catalogues - base...
Fabric, Wool, Oak
$4,000
H 31 in W 29.75 in D 30 in
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Rolf Rastad & Adolf Relling, 1950s
By Dokka Mobler, Adolf Relling and Rolf Rastad
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lounge chair by Rolf Rastad and Adolf Relling for Dokka Mobler, Norway, c.1950s. The lounge chair has the original green tweed fabric and features a sculpted teak frame. Dimensions ...
Upholstery, Teak
$1,218
H 38.59 in W 25.2 in D 28.35 in
1960s, Danish design by Kurt Olsen, armchair model 230, original condition.
By Kurt Olsen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Tarm, 82
1960s, Danish design by Kurt Olsen for Slagelse Møbelværk. Armchair model 230 in original good condition: no smells, no stains, and stable construction. Original yellow furniture vel...
Velvet, Beech
Midcentury 'Ruster' Chair by Yngve Ekström for Pastoe
By Yngve Ekström
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
The iconic Ruster lounge chair, crafted by the renowned Swedish designer Yngve Ekström and produced by Pastoe in the 1960s, is a timeless piece of Sc...
Textile, Wood
Vintage Danish Lounge Chair by Aage Pedersen for Getama, 1960s
By GETAMA
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish lounge chair GE-88 by Aage Pedersen for GETAMA Denmark 1960s. Danish modern lounge chair model GE88 designed by the owner of the GETAMA f...
Teak
Yngve Ekstrom Lamino Longue Chair For Swedese 1960s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Čelinac, BA
Yngve Ekstrom Lamino Longue Chair for Swedese 1960s
Leather, Wood
Lamino Longue Chair By Yngve Ekstrom For Swedese 1960s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Čelinac, BA
Yngve Ekstrom Lamino Longue Chair for Swedese 1960s
Leather, Wood
FD 164 Adjustable Longue Chair By Arne Vodder For France and Son 1960S
By Arne Vodder
Located in Čelinac, BA
FD 164 Longue Chair By Arne Vodder For France and Son Denmark 1960s
Fabric, Teak
Longue Chair By Grete Jalk for france and Son 1950s
By Grete Jalk
Located in Čelinac, BA
Grete Jalk Longue Chair Denmark for France and Son 1950
Fabric, Teak
Louis Van Teeffelen Longue Chair 1960s
By Louis Van Teeffelen
Located in Čelinac, BA
Louis Van Teeffelen Longue Chair 1960s
Fabric, Teak
Lucian Ercolani Longue Chair For ERCOL 1960s
By Lucian Ercolani
Located in Čelinac, BA
Lucian Ercolani Windsor Longue Chair for ERCOL 1960s
Wood
