Another month and it’s time for another ‘On my radar’ post, rounding up the new furniture launches and latest designs that have caught my eye. Today we have a retro design brought back from the archives, a sustainable outdoor chair made from unwanted fishing nets, a stoneware collection inspired by Japanese design and a selection of simple sofas that prioritise comfort and durability. Hope you like them!
Etcetera by Jan Ekselius for Artilleriet
Seventies interiors and retro designs are a big trends this year – tying into that movement, Swedish design boutique Artilleriet has put the sculptural Etcetera series by Jan Ekselius back into production. Designed in 1970, the Etcetera easy chair has a fluid, organic shape that’s instantly recognisable.
A much sought after design, for years this icon has only been available to buy second hand at premier auction houses. Teaming up on this new collaboration, Artilleriet and Jan Ekselius have gone back to the original manufacturers J.O. Carlsson and Forsbergs in Småland, Sweden to develop the series and bring back the design.
‘It all began when I was attending the Royal College of Art in London and discovered how elegantly and naturally elastic materials formed when stretched over a convex shape. I made a prototype in the school’s workshop of bent steel pipes and latex dipped jute fabric, the prototype ended up as one of my degree projects. When production started in 1972 at the J.O. Carlsson, we realised that the elastic fabric was difficult to use an I started to search for a replacing material. I eventually found a solution when Volvo invented their adjustable Pullmaflex back support. Now the concept and comfort have been even further developed with the help of elastic bands,’ says Jan Ekselius.
The new Etcetera series comes in nine different colours made of organic velvet velour in 100% cotton – Canary Yellow, Chili Red, Chocolate Brown, Cream White, Grass Green, Klein Blue, Rubin Red, Sand Beige and Zink Grey. Choose from an armchair, the lounge chair and stool, each manufactured by hand.
Etcetera is sold exclusively at Artilleriet at their webshop artilleriet.se or in the boutique at Magasingatan 19 in Gothenburg. The lounge chair is priced at €1760, the easy chair at €1695 and the foot stool at €575.
first image: styling Lotta Agaton, photography Erik Lefvander. All other images courtesy of Artilleriet
New furniture launches from Mater
Mater is a conscious and ethical Danish design brand ‘with a strong design philosophy and great emphasis on craftsmanship’. They’re doing really exciting things when it comes to reusing waste materials and exploring new production techniques – utilising everything from food waste to elephant poo to create their high end furniture designs (you might remember I interviewed the founder Henrik Marstrand back in November).
One such design is the new outdoor collection named Ocean. Mater has teamed up with the only facility in the world that upcycles fishnet waste, based on the western coastline of Denmark. Originally designed in 1955 by Nanna and Joergen Ditzel for their own personal use (Nanna also designed the Trinidad chair), Ocean is a lightweight design with a metal frame and a gently curved, slatted seats made of used fishnet and hard plastic waste. It’s available in Concrete Grey or Black.
It really appeals to me that not only are Mater making this archived, private design more accessible to more people, they’re putting sustainability at the heart of everything they do. They combining classic, tried-and-tested design with an existing material resource to create something new and innovative.
‘Just imagine if this Ocean series was a great success – maybe one day we would run out of fishnet waste to use! That would be quite something,’ says Marstrand’
All images courtesy Mater
Upper cabinet by Karl Andersson & Söner
Karl Andersson & Söner is a new name for me, I came across them on Clippings.com. They’re certainly not a new company – founded in 1898, they have been producing ‘durable and sustainable’ furniture designs in Huskvarna for four generations. Working with wood as their principal matieral, they aim to create designs with a ‘strong identity and unique character that outlives fleeting trends’.
‘We have had the word “sustainability” in our business concept for over 100 years and for us it means that we conserve resources, are environmentally sound and that our products will last for several decades. So we have always done.’
New this year, their Upper cabinet has particularly caught my eye. Designed by Swedish designer Anton Björsing, Upper is a simple, functional design that’s all about the little details – such as the mitred corners and the gently rounded, solid wood edges. The doors are raised up slightly above the top surface so they can be opened without the need for handles. The cabinet is made of veneered MDF and is finished in oak, ash, or standard colours and stains on ash or white-glazed oak or ash. It can comes on legs or black locking wheels.
Images courtesy Karl Andersson & Söner
Setomono tableware by Kristina Dam Studio
I know this isn’t a furniture launch per say, but I love everything that Danish designer Kristina Dam does. Her work is all about ‘sculptural minimalism’ – her designs have a distinct Scandinavian and architectural expression.
Her new kitchen series features a simple, stackable set of cups, plates and bowls. Inspired by traditional Japanese pottery, her Setomono tableware is made from fine, smooth stoneware in an off-white colour. They’re produced in a European factory that specialises in high-quality fine stoneware and are glazed and burned twice to reach highest strength and maximum durability – meaning they’re suitable for the microwave and the dishwasher.
Prices start from 30 euros for a cup, available for purchase from kristinadam.dk
All images courtesy Kristina Dam Studio
Fin Side table by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl for NORR11
Danish brand NORR11 has unveiled the new Fin side table by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl. It’s a minimalist yet characterful design that plays on balance and shape, drawing from NORR11’s classic designs, the Mammoth and Elephant collections.
Fin is a small table made of a round oak veneer top with three legs – two turned oak timber sections and one fin-shaped oak leg that distorts the form. It comes in four versions – natural, dark stained, black and smoked wood.
Priced at £340, available from norr11.com
All images courtesy NORR11
News from JUUL Furniture
JUUL Furniture is an independent brand within the N. Eilersen A/S group that produces ‘elegant and durable handcrafted furniture that’s comfortable and lasts a lifetime’. Their ethos is that ‘everyone should have the possibility of sitting properly – at a sensible price’.
JUUL launched a number of new designs at this year’s Stockholm Furniture Fair. There’s the JUUL 104 sofa by Jens Juul Eilersen (first image), characterised by its clean lines and minimalist look, with loose pillows that give a relaxed feel. Then the JUUL 311 sofa (third and fourth image), also by Jens Juul Eilersen, that sits on slim steel legs with a narrow shell and chunky, rectangular cushions. For bigger spaces, there’s the JUUL 103 corner sofa (last image) – you guessed it, by Jens Juul Eilersen – that is all sleek lines and discreet joins. With concealed legs it almost looks like it is floating.
The beautiful rugs are also by JUUL Furniture. They’re all handwoven and there’s three to choose from – the JUUL 111, JUUL 112 and JUUL 113. Go for a flat woven design with fringing or a velvety rug with straight edges.
Prices start at 3,134.00 for the JUUL 104 sofa 2,603 euros for the JUUL 311 sofa and 2,399 euros for the JUUL 103. Rugs start at 648 euros. Find out more at juul.eu
Images courtesy JUUL Furniture
