Mats Theselius 'Aluminium' Lounge Chair in Woven Birch Bark

Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, limited edition 'Aluminium' lounge chair, aluminum, beech, birch bark, Sweden, 1990

One of Mats Theselius’s most exemplary designs is the Aluminium armchair from 1990, produced by Källemo AB in Värnamo, Sweden. This particular chair, number 18, belongs to the first series of the model, originally produced in a limited edition of 200 numbered pieces. Of these, numbers 1–50 were executed in a special version with braided birch bark upholstery, while the remaining chairs were produced in leather.
The curved body is made from aluminum sheets and features a curved piece of bent beech wood that seamlessly follows its contour, supported by sculptural cast-aluminium feet. The seat and backrest are crafted from woven birch bark — a rather surprising and unusual material that displays a rich variety of natural shades. The striking contrast between the warm, organic texture of the bark and the sleek, industrial finish of the metal enhances the chair’s distinctive aesthetic.

Biography
Mats Theselius (1956) is a Swedish designer who studied interior design at Konstfack, or University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm. He is mostly responsible for exclusive and inventive Swedish furniture produced during the 90s. His work is a mix between art and design. Overall, his creations carry a real uniqueness. They are full of aesthetics, style and radiate extravagance. In 2011 Theselius became an associate of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. For his work he received multiple awards such as the Bruno Mathsson Award and Torsten & Wanja Söderberg’s Design Prize in 1997, and the King of Sweden’s Prince Eugen Medal in 2018. To this day, Theselius is still active in creating furniture, lighting, and other works of art.