Vintage Swedish Wooden Black Rocking Chair Grandessa by Lena Larsson for Nesto, 1960s

This Grandessa rocking chair was designed by Lena Larsson for the Swedish Nesto manufacturer during the 1960s. The armchair is made of beech wood. It has been finished with black varnish. The high backrest seamlessly transforms into the armrests. The structure is designed to ensure harmonious rocking.

Lena Larsson was born in 1919, died in 2000. She was a Swedish interior designer, a known pioneer of unconventional, environmentally friendly solutions that she created. In her memoirs, she wrote, I wanted to revolutionize the furniture industry. She designed a lot of children’s furniture that was surprising in form because she took into account what children really are and not what adults consider them to be. She was a member of the Rabenius family, belonging to the Swedish nobility. She trained as a carpenter at the Carl Malmstens craft school. Then she worked for a carpenter, Elias Svedberg, with whom she designed furniture. In the early 1940s, she was hired by Svenska Slöjdföreningen, now Svensk Forum and Svenska Arkitekters Riksförbund. Together with architects Anders-William Olsson and Mårten Larsson, she created the single-family house Skal och kärna. From 1956 to 1960, she was the editor-in-chief of the interior decoration magazine Allt i hemmet. As an artistic leader in the Nordiska Kompaniet store, she used her knowledge to create interior design solutions that simplify the home lifestyle. NK was a speciality store that sold experimental furniture for the whole family. It has also become a forum for ideas and products to be tested by young designers. In doing so, it paved the way for established and new furniture designers and manufacturers. Despite her merits and talent, her name is not as recognized as her many male counterparts.

The armchair is in original vintage condition with slight signs of use due to age. The seat is 41 cm high.