ArtistSwedish
Eric Merthen
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Eric Merthen was a Swedish furniture designer whose work appeared primarily during the 1960s, a decade when Scandinavian furniture design was at the height of its international influence. His designs were produced by two Swedish manufacturers: Ire Möbler (also spelled Ire Møbler) in Skillingaryd, Småland, and AB Dahléns Fåtöljindustri in Dalum. Both firms were dedicated to quality production in relatively modest volumes, and Merthen's work fitted that ethos precisely.
The Amiral is Merthen's most widely recognised model. A lounge chair with a slender frame in exotic hardwood - typically Brazilian rosewood or palisander - and removable leather cushions held by leather belts, the Amiral reinterprets the classic safari or campaign chair in a Scandinavian idiom. No visible screws or metal joinery interrupt the surface; the leather components support each other structurally, giving the chair a lightness that belies its solidity. It was produced by Ire Möbler from around 1960, often with a matching footstool, and is considered one of the cleaner executions of mid-century Scandinavian seating.
Beyond the Amiral, Merthen designed several other models for Ire Möbler, including the Cadett - an easy chair in rosewood and black leather with a more upright, compact silhouette - and the Tornado sofa, available in two- and three-seat configurations with oak frames and leather upholstery. For AB Dahléns Fåtöljindustri he produced the Kronfåtöljen, a lounge chair with a frame of chromed metal and jacaranda, showing a willingness to work with industrial materials alongside natural wood.
Ire Möbler was founded in 1939 in Skillingaryd by entrepreneur Gerhard Ihreborn. The company positioned itself on quality and timeless design rather than high-volume output, which made it a natural home for Merthen's considered approach. His designs for Ire shared that company's commitment to craftsmanship and to pieces that would remain usable and visually coherent across decades.
Merthen's birth and death years remain unverified in public records. His output appears concentrated in the late 1950s through the 1960s. Specific details about his training, professional background, or life outside his design work are not well documented in available sources.
On the auction market, Merthen's work appears primarily through Scandinavian and German auction houses. The 15 items in Auctionist's database are almost entirely seating - chairs, armchairs, and sofas - with the highest recorded sale being an Amiral fåtölj with footstool at 8,000 SEK, followed by a two-seat Ire Møbler sofa at 5,310 SEK. Stockholms Auktionsverk Düsseldorf/Neuss accounts for the largest share of appearances, indicating meaningful demand in the German vintage furniture market. The Amiral and Cadett models continue to sell internationally through specialist dealers on platforms such as 1stDibs and Pamono.