NOGA Journal – NOGA introduce the iconic Orchestra Chair by Sven Markelius

The iconic Orchestra Chair was originally designed in 1931 by the Swedish architect Sven Markelius, and is now launched by Nordiska Galleriet (NOGA) in close collaboration with the Markelius family. At the same time NOGA also lunch the dining table Nockeby, designed by Markelius for his own house in 1930.

orkesterstolen-kollage — Orchestra Chair – Sven Markelius for NO GA

Sven Markelius (1889–1972) was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and played a significant role in the introduction of functionalism in Sweden. He was also a skilled designer and often drew the interiors and furniture for his buildings.

Editorial Splash 3 + 4 | NO GA introducerar den ikoniska Orkesterstolen av Sven Markelius — Sven Markelius – 1889–1972

The Orchestra chair, which was the first stackable chair to be produced in Sweden, was originally designed for the world-famous Helsingborg Concert Hall that Markelius designed in 1931. Since then it has been so widely used that most Swedes would recognise it.

Editorial Splash 5 | NO GA introducerar den ikoniska Orkesterstolen av Sven Markelius — Orchestra Chairs in Helsingborg Concert Hall, designed by Sven Markelius in 1931.

Markelius had taken inspiration from the 1929 birch stacking chair 611 designed by his friends Alvar Aalto and Otto Korhonen in Finland. They gave Markelius permission to use their chair as inspiration for his version. The Orchestra Chair was manufactured and produced by the Bodafors factory in Sweden for more than 30 years. Due to the many copies on the market back then, and in order to be able to compete on price, Bodafors offered four different versions of the chair, which they produced simultaneously in different price categories. Because of this, there are some differences between the chairs found at the auction houses today.

Editorial Splash 8 | NO GA introducerar den ikoniska Orkesterstolen av Sven Markelius — Amoeba Table – Paul T. Frankl for NO GA

Nordiska Galleriet (NOGA) has been a leading design destination in Sweden since its inception in 1912. As early as 1967, it produced its first piece of furniture, the Family Sofa, designed by Italian architect Tobia Scarpa. Today, the company has resumed the tradition and its own NOGA collection now includes the Nockeby orchestra chair and table by Sven Markelius, as well as the Amoeba table designed by architect Paul T. Frankl in the late 1940s. The table is considered one of Paul T. Frankl's masterpieces and is a true mid-century modernist icon.