Safari armchairs by Arne Norell, Sweden, 1960’s
SOLD
Ref. GA004087
Safari Armchairs in Rosewood and Cowhide Leather, designed by Arne Norell for Møbel AB, Sweden, 1960s
This “Sirocco” armchair by Arne Norell is crafted from cognac-dyed cowhide leather and a rosewood frame. The leather is attached to the structure with straps and belts, contributing to the piece’s hunting-inspired aesthetic — hence the nickname it earned from the public.
Two armchairs available.
Condition:
Excellent restored condition. May show minor signs of age and use.
Dimensions:
Width 66 cm. Height 72 cm. Depth 66 cm.
About the Designer:
Arne Norell was a Swedish designer and founder of his namesake company, Møbel AB Arne Norell. A student of Kaare Klint, his conceptual designs gained popularity in part thanks to his use of traditional materials and forms (leather, turned wood, etc.) combined with simple, forward-thinking lines.
Norell’s enduring designs mixed leather and metal as well as turned and bent wood, allowing the natural beauty of these materials to shine. Simple and relaxed yet sophisticated, his vintage sofas, lounge chairs, and other furniture embody the Scandinavian modern style that revolutionized design after World War II.
Although he created versatile furniture that emphasized both comfort and style, Norell is less well-known than many other mid-century designers, with some of his works only being produced posthumously. Born in Åsele, Sweden, Norell opened a furniture workshop in Solna, north of Stockholm, in 1954. In 1958, he established Møbel AB Arne Norell on a farm in Småland (the same region where IKEA opened its first store that year). The beauty and tranquility of this setting served as a constant source of inspiration.
In Småland, Norell created his best-known pieces, including the Inca lounge chair with visible wooden joints and soft leather, the Indra and Ilona sofas, and the understated yet elegant Sirocco chair (1964) with its wooden frame. For many of his designs, Norell drew inspiration from the same military-style campaign furniture that had inspired Kaare Klint’s legendary Safari chair (1933), a design that influenced generations of Scandinavian designers such as Hans Wegner and Ole Wanscher.
Like these earlier furniture masters, Norell was committed to creating pieces that were both comfortable and practical. Using leather and warm woods as his primary materials, he avoided glue and screws, opting instead for buckles and leather straps. In 1973, Norell received posthumous recognition from the British Furniture Manufacturers Association for his luxurious Ari chair, a sumptuous lounge chair with a chrome steel frame and foam cushions covered in leather.
During his lifetime, Norell’s work was appreciated among European interior designers. However, he became more widely known after 1971, when many of his designs finally entered production. Today, Norell’s furniture, along with pieces designed by his daughter, Marie Norell-Möller, and other Swedish designers, continues to be handmade in Aneby, Sweden, by Norell Furniture, which remains a family-run company.
Price: 3500€ / Each
