Bruno Mathsson

Bruno Mathsson (1907–1988) was one of Sweden’s most innovative and influential modernist designers, renowned for his pioneering approach to comfort, form, and craftsmanship. Born in Värnamo into a family of cabinetmakers, Mathsson carried forward a deep respect for wood while reimagining how it could serve the needs of modern living. Self-taught yet deeply skilled, he experimented tirelessly with bent beech and laminated techniques, seeking to make furniture that was both functional and sensuous.

In the 1930s, his breakthrough came with the Grasshopper chair, a light, sculptural design that embraced the body’s contours—a radical departure from the rigid furniture of the time. Mathsson believed that good design must support the natural posture of the human body, a philosophy he called “the science of sitting.” His later works, such as the Eva, Pernilla, and Jetson chairs, embodied this harmony of ergonomics and elegance, becoming icons of Scandinavian modernism.

Beyond furniture, Mathsson was fascinated by how architecture could enhance everyday life. He designed transparent, light-filled homes that blurred the line between indoors and outdoors, anticipating today’s minimalist ideals. His work was celebrated internationally, from MoMA in New York to design fairs across Europe, where he stood as a symbol of Swedish functional beauty.

Bruno Mathsson’s legacy endures in his belief that true modern design is not about excess or ornament, but about the quiet intelligence of form serving life itself.