Karin Wheeled Lounge Chair In Cognac Leather & Chrome by Bruno Mathsson for DUX, 1960s

Model · Karin
Designer · Bruno Mathsson
Manufacturer · DUX
Origin · Sweden
Period · 1960s
Style · Scandinavian Modern / Mid-Century Modern
Materials · Chrome-plated steel, leather
Colour · Polished chrome, cognac

Object

Karin seems to hover just above the floor. A slender chrome structure traces a rectangle around the body, while generous leather cushions rest inside it with almost nothing interrupting the space between. Even the casters seem to reinforce the idea that the chair was never meant to feel fixed in place.

Mathsson designed Karin at the end of the 1960s, after decades spent studying how furniture might follow the body rather than discipline it. Here, his earlier experiments in bent wood became something more architectural. Steel creates the structure, cushions provide softness, and the chair moves easily through the room. In cognac leather and polished chrome, Karin feels like an image of modern life from another era that somehow never arrived at an expiration date.

Designer

Bruno Mathsson (1907–1988) was born into a family of cabinetmakers in the small Swedish town of Värnamo. Wood was already part of his world. What interested him was how far furniture could be pushed beyond the conventions he inherited.

He became almost obsessive about the simple act of sitting, studying bodies at rest and questioning the upright chair that generations had accepted without much thought. As his work evolved, bent wood, canvas and webbing were joined by steel and generous upholstery. Karin belongs to this later world, where Mathsson's lifelong fascination with weightless comfort became more architectural without losing its human centre.

Manufacturer

DUX began in Malmö in 1926, at a moment when Scandinavian furniture was quietly being reinvented. Its belief in comfort, craftsmanship and unconventional ideas made it a natural home for Bruno Mathsson.

Their collaboration allowed Mathsson's experiments to move into new materials and new ways of living. Karin emerged from this relationship as a chair of steel, softness and movement — carrying a distinctly Swedish idea of comfort into the increasingly open interiors of the late 1960s.

Condition

The chrome-plated steel frame and casters remain fully original and are preserved in excellent vintage condition, showing only a gentle patina developed through age. The cushions have been refreshed in premium cognac leather, restoring their softness and depth while remaining faithful to the original character of the chair. Overall, the piece is preserved in excellent vintage condition.

Dimensions

Width · 79 cm / 31.0 in
Depth · 79 cm / 31.0 in
Height · 80 cm / 31.5 in
Seat height · 38 cm / 15.0 in

Included

The lounge chair is accompanied by a Back to the Furniture Certificate of Originality, a Back to the Furniture flyer, a Thank You card and a small gift.

Availability

The lounge chair can be ready to ship within 10-15 workdays.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. Every piece is carefully prepared and packed for international transport. Shipping costs are calculated according to destination at checkout, with tracking provided after dispatch.

Enquiries

For questions about the piece, its condition, shipping, delivery or any other details, please get in touch. Additional information is always available before purchase.

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