Göran Malmvall

Swedish designer Göran Malmvall (1917-2001) played a key role in shaping Swedish furniture design during the 20th century. The youngest son of Karl Andersson, founder of the renowned Karl Andersson & Söner company, Malmvall was immersed in the world of craftsmanship from an early age. Under the mentorship of the renowned Swedish designer and architect Carl Malmsten (1888-1972), he honed his skills in furniture design, ultimately becoming the principal in-house designer for the family business, a role he maintained until 1982.

Although he received formal design training, Malmvall was largely a self-taught cabinetmaker, blending technical precision with a distinctive sense of innovation. His bold approach to design is evident in several celebrated collections, including the highly collectible ‘Sportstugemöbler’ (‘sports cabin furniture’), produced by Karl Andersson & Söner between 1936 and 1955, the ‘Svensk Fur’ (‘Swedish Pine’) and ‘Svitjod’ series, the ‘553’ pine chairs, the ‘322’ sofa, and the ‘KA 72’ cabinet series (introduced in 1972), alongside various other furniture pieces. These works exemplify Scandinavian craftsmanship, reflecting Malmvall’s minimalist aesthetic with clean lines and functional design, all of which are well-documented in general design literature.

Founded in 1898 by master carpenter Karl Andersson in the village of Berghem, between Huskvarna and Gränna, Karl Andersson & Söner quickly built a reputation for creating furniture that was both durable and elegantly crafted. More than a hundred years later, the company continues to uphold this tradition, designing and manufacturing high-quality pieces in their state-of-the-art Huskvarna facility.