DesignerSwedish
Alf Svensson
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The television changed Swedish living rooms in the early 1950s, and Alf Svensson designed a chair for the new habit. His TeVe chair from 1953, low-slung and wide enough to curl up in, was made for a generation learning to sit still in front of a screen. It became one of the most recognizable pieces of Swedish mid-century furniture, produced by Ljungs Industrier under their Bra Bohag line and sold through the DUX brand.
Svensson was born in 1929 and studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Gothenburg before joining Ljungs Industrier. He rose to the position of chief designer. During the 1950s, he worked primarily in teak, rosewood, and oak. The Contour series of armchairs, the Capri Hog, and various storage pieces all came from this prolific period.
In 1961, Svensson left to establish S-Design together with Yngvar Sandstrom. The partnership produced the Galaxy chair from 1968, a swivel seat with a molded plastic shell. The Contourett Roto, a swivel lounge chair for DUX, became another signature piece.
Svensson also designed lighting for Bergboms and furniture for Bjasta Snickerifabrik. In the 1980s, he worked with Kallemo. He died in 1992.
At auction, Svensson's furniture appears across Swedish houses, with 102 recorded lots. Chairs dominate. The TeVe chair drives the strongest prices, with a pair in sheepskin reaching 17,500 SEK. The Contourett Roto has fetched 9,000 EUR.