26 December, 2007

Mathsson Folding Table: designed for the versatile beauty

Bruno Mathsson is best known for his chairs and his architectural designs such as his well-insulated and beautiful glass house, but he did other fine home furnishings inclusive computer table, sofa beds and dining tables. One of the most versatile and well known is Mathsson folding table, a design that is elegant and beautiful but also extremely practical.

It seemed only natural that a young Mathsson would grow up to work with mainly wood, genera Mathsson had not worked on anything else during the five generations before him. As a small boy, he had chores to do in the family's furniture and carpenter shop, and he had practical experience and knowledge of different techniques, tools and wood all his life.

To learn more, especially in engineering and technology aspects that were not available in the small town Värnamo, commissioned the lighting design books and consulted experts. He was not only learning and knowledge, but also created a network of mentors who would help him later. His formal education was partially funded by design awards he won for his furniture .

Although he created many different types of furniture made everything carefully in order to be comfortable and beautiful. In addition there he realized that people like to have flexibility and furniture that can be moved around and used in innovative ways. His module style adapts easily to different places and situations and increase its attraction.

Mathsson folding table is just such a versatile piece of furniture. It was produced for the first time in 1935, with main components consisting of birch and with a white laminated surface, but also models of oak, beech, cherry, ash and other woods.

Mathsson-table folds out to a minimal 23 cm pack when it is completely folded and can be expanded into a 280 cm long table that folded. The table can be used with one or both sides folded down to a tiny Printer stands at a cafe or bag up to a banquet table with virtually all variations in between where possible.

Mathsson folding table is most likely based on the folding table in Swedish homes, tables giving flexibility in confined spaces, but the purity of Mathsson's lines and the design did a very traditional form of his own. Although Mathsson switched to using more modern materials like metal and synth ether from about 1960 onwards, it is still his sleek wooden furnishings such as folding table that continues considered his best work.

Folding table