Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson was born in Varnamo in 1907 into a woodworking tradition. His father was a well known cabinetmaker producing well crafted wood furniture as had the four generations of Mathsson's before him. He grew up learning the technical skills to make furniture, the feel and nature of wood and the tradition of excellence.

Mathsson became intrigued with the technical side of furniture design, and started voraciously reading everything he could locate on the subject, from reading museum books to contacting design centers. He educated himself on both the technical issues involved and the design styles themselves, and in the process became focused primarily on functionalism. He eventually received a scholarship for his work on functionalist design.

Since he wasn't satisfied with the limitations imposed by flat board furniture, Mathsson branched out to chairs without springs and heavy upholstery, and towards a clean, elegant design which could be adjusted in position. Some of these designs were so controversial that they remained in storage for many years until Mathsson made a name for himself.

Mathsson was so anxious about the thing he calls the "mechanics of sitting" that he conducted trials to determine the precise blueprint which was created by a person while reclining, even dropping in the snow to look at the result! By 1937, he had attained a Grand Prix design honor at an Expo in Paris. At that time, a few of his lost chairs began to be viewed by the public again.

One of his most memorable creations is the Pernilla chair. It is built in easy chair or lounge chair styles in addition to bentwood and laminating methods used for a portion of the plan. It's possible to upholster or make with webbing. In the time of war when materials were scarce, Mathsson conducted tests with jute as well as hemp or whatever else he was able to find, and this motif may be used with almost any organic or inorganic objects. Pernilla chairs usually have a pillow that is connected.

Another famous Bruno Mathsson design was the Fällbord table, a modular table that can be folded and reconfigured in many different arrangements. It was designed in 1935 and remains a modern looking piece of furniture to this day. This timelessness is a common thread running through many of his designs including his highly sought after Jetson, Miranda, Eva and Pernilla chair designs.

Yet another piece of Mathsson furniture (Mathsson mobler) that MUST be mentioned here is another of his tables. The Mathsson superellips is also considered a classic and it seems like it will increase in value for many years to come. Mathsson passed away in 1988 leaving an amazing legacy of family heritage made great by his insight.

Bruno Mathsson was a Swedish designer famous for his furniture designs. Much of his design education was self-administered and over time he learned to branch out from traditional designs and incorporate a more functional feel to contemporary furniture. By studying the mechanics and variations in sitting styles, he was able to design one of his most famous designs, the Pernilla chair. Another of his many timeless pieces of furniture is the modular fällbord table. His classic designs are well suited to anyone looking for something a little different (annorlunda mobler) to much of the mass market furniture available today.