Axel Einar Hjorth

Scharinska villan in Umeå, designed by architect Ragnar Östberg. It was constructed between 1904-05 and remained in private ownership until 1957 when it was acquired by Umeå Municipality. In 1960, the villa transitioned to become the first headquarters for Umeå Student Union.
Before the sale to Umeå Municipality, the furnishings were sold, and the present furniture was purchased by a private individual for a new mountain lodge in Hemavan, which was completed in 1956. Since then, the lodge along with its furnishings has been inherited by the current owner.

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.