Axel Einar Hjorth
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an ebony and walnut tabouret, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden May 12th 1928 for the World's Fair in Barcelona 1929.
The seat upholstered with grey velvet, maker's metal label. Length 82 cm, width 37 cm, height 50 cm.
The tabouret is one of a pair ordered and executed for Barcelona 1929. The Nordiska Kompaniet's metal label with the number C21433 implies that this actual piece was executed to be included in the Barcelona Exhibition.
The rest of the Hjorth pieces in the same furnishing were the models named 'Caesar' and 'Louis'.
The drawing for the pair of tabourets do not have a name attached. Stylistically the tabouret seems more related to the 'Louis' pieces, the 'Caesar' pieces are more classical, with carved sphinxes etc. The base of the tabouret have a similar base as seen on other pieces by Hjorth, such as on the sideboard ' Stål', the cabinet in pine 'Lovö' and on the cabinet 'Borgen' from the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition.
Later upholstery.
Literature
Björk, Christian, Ekström, Thomas & Ericson, Eric, Axel Einar Hjorth: möbelarkitekt, Signum, Stockholm, 2009, about the World's Fair in Barcelona 1929, pp 72-85.
More information
The 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, officially in Spanish: Exposición Internacional de Barcelona 1929, it took place from 20 May 1929 to 15 January 1930 in Barcelona, Spain.
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, designed by Carles Buïgas was built ahead of the exhibition and is still today a landmark for Barcelona.
The Swedish Pavillion was designed by Peder Clason and most remarkable was probably the tower, symbolizing a lighthouse, "Funkis" standing outside the Pavillion.
The Barcelona Exhibition was the first major exhibition for Axel Einar Hjorth as the head of the Nordiska Kompaniet furniture department. The Nordiska Kompaniet's exhibition area, also designed by Hjorth seems to have been remarkable with its deep blueish grey walls, black floorings where the spectacular pieces of furniture in black, grey, red and gold created impressive effects. The cabinet 'Louis' was included in the Swedish Pavillion in Barcelona. Louis was sold by Bukowskis in April 2002 for SEK 1,150,000, a record price for a 20thC Swedish piece of furniture that it took almost 20 years to beat.
The present pieces disappeared from the public eye post the exhibition. The magnificent tabouret which is to be seen in the blurred photographs from the exhibition was rediscovered not too long ago at a smaller market in Barcelona.
The tabouret has few similarities to other pieces by Hjorth. He managed to blend the Swedish classicism with French Art Déco and turn it into a unique solitary piece of furniture.
This applies also to the macassar-ebony veneered chest of drawers, it has a solemn appearance highlighted with the discreet wood carvings and its silver plated handles. The chest of drawers has only been seen in a black and white photograph and as a pencil drawing from the archives. How it came to the Myrdal family is yet to be discovered.
Designer
Axel Einar Hjorth is considered one of Sweden's most significant furniture designers during the 1920s and 30s. Hjorth's early employers included Svenska Möbelfabrikerna in Bodafors and the Stockholm Crafts Association. The big breakthrough came as chief architect for Nordiska Kompaniet, a position he took up in 1927 and held until 1938. Hjorth's first major assignment was the Nordiska Kompaniet's lavish stand at the World Exhibition in Barcelona in 1929, to then participate in several major international exhibitions during the following decade. In 1929, Hjorth also breaks new ground and designs the first series of rustic furniture in stained pine, the so-called sports cabin furniture that was named "Lovö", "Utö" and "Sandhamn" after the islands in the Stockholm archipelago.
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