Småland Bistro chair | birch
Yngve Ekström
Småland at Stockholm Stadshotell
”A sculpture for every day use!”
In the mid-sixties, renowned Swedish designer Yngve Ekström created the east-going yet distinct bistro chair Småland. Timing was perfect – Swedish cafés, restaurants and hotels soon featured Småland chair, it fulfilled a longing for lightness, colour and optimism. The same longing exists today, and now Småland is here again. Still made in Småland by Stolab, the original manufacturer. The relaunch of Småland began with a phone call from Johan Agrell, one of the initiators of Stockholm’s latest boutique hotel, Stockholms Stadshotell. In furnishing the hotel bistro, a vintage example of Småland set the tone.
Johan Agrell on of the initiators to Stockholms Stadshotell
Johan Agrell was immediately drawn to its expression. “The lower back doesn’t disrupt the flow, which is super important in a space like ours, with many chairs next to each other. So I called Stolab and persisted on a relaunch.”
"The success of Småland had to do with its shape”, says Martin Johansson, owner and CEO of Stolab. “It’s laid back, effortlessly cool and brings about great mood. Its legs are forward leaning, it’s going places. But the back is angled backwards, making it comfortable and musical. It’s like a jazz tune, ready to be discovered again. The timing is perfect for a relaunch.”
"I would describe Småland as solidly elegant"
Martin Johansson shows off the touch of a furniture maker and places his hand gently on the back of the chair. “Solidly elegant, I would say. Småland has both grace and calmness and the more you study it, the more you will see the genius of Yngve Ekström’s design. Like how the armrest is sculptured to welcome your elbow. And the material is of course there to behold. It’s something of a sculpture for everyday use, carried out in solid wood. No screws or other details, just wood, through and through. What you see is what you get.” In the same shape as in the sixties, but in updated colourways. Cheeky lingonberry, calm grey, Nordic morning blue, classically eggshell white and black, matte lacquer that lets the structure of wood shine through. And in two varieties, bistro chair and small sofa.
The Swedish province of Småland is known for ingenuity,
self-reliance and yes, frugality. Here, we don’t waste what can be used and we are unimpressed by pretention.
We’re straight to the point.
