Low coffee table, designed by Karl-Erik Ekselius for JOC Vetlanda, Sweden, 1960s

Description

Low coffee table, designed by Karl-Erik Ekselius for JOC Vetlanda, Sweden, 1960s

A very rare model of coffee table with a strong, modernist form. It was designed by Karl-Erik Ekselius for J. O. Carlsson in Sweden in the 1960s. The geometric table was made of oak in a natural tone, a wood traditionally regarded as noble. It is an exceptionally strong and durable material, characterised by rich grain patterns. Oak is resistant to scratches and damage, and gains character with age. The square top rests on broad, rectangular legs that tuck beneath it. The piece is visually light and highly functional, while the arrangement of the supports at different heights gives it a geometric, linear expression. Although the coffee table is a decorative detail, it lends character to the entire interior arrangement. The original maker’s mark is located on the underside of the tabletop.

Karl-Erik Ekselius lived from 1914 to 1998. He was a Swedish architect and furniture designer. He studied cabinetmaking in Germany and at Carl Malmsten’s School of Furniture in Stockholm in the 1930s. He later worked for the family company J. O. Carlsson, later known as JOC Möbel AB, in Vetlanda, eventually taking over the management of the company in 1970. In 1955, he achieved a breakthrough as a designer at the H55 exhibition in Helsingborg, where he presented chairs, a table and a sofa produced by J. O. Carlsson. One of his best-known works was the F 139 armchair, which was selected for the Dag Hammarskjöld Library in New York. In the 1960s and 1970s, the company focused on furniture for public spaces and offices. During this period, Ekselius also designed the Mondo armchair, made with a moulded aluminium frame and leather upholstery. Ekselius worked as an architect on projects such as Columbia University in New York and New Zealand House in London. He also designed furniture for America Line cruise ships.

The table has been preserved in its original vintage condition. It has minor signs of use consistent with its age, including scratches in the wood.

The colours of the products shown in the photographs may differ slightly from the actual colours. This is due to individual monitor settings and the type of lighting—the photographs were taken in artificial light, which may affect the perception of the shades. Nevertheless, we make every effort to ensure that the photographs reflect the actual appearance of the product as accurately as possible. Photographs of the item shown in an interior may also appear in the listing. These are for illustrative purposes only.