Norrgavels Wooden armchair – the history

In the early 1990s, Norrgavel's founder, Nirvan Richter, began sketching what would eventually become the Wooden armchair – one of our most beloved pieces of furniture. A majestic yet ascetically simple armchair, which in a relatively short time has become a modern furniture classic. The process of realising the vision of the Wooden armchair was a time-consuming one. Nirvan Richter carried the idea for Wooden armchair within him for years and when the first sketch was finally completed in 1992, it took another three years before the Wooden armchair was put into production.

"The vision contained many paradoxes; an enveloping shape without a sense of confinement […]"

"I carried the Wooden armchair inside me for several years, and from the conceptual sketch in 1992 it took another three years until production in 1995. The vision contained many paradoxes; an enveloping form without a sense of confinement, a comfortable armchair that looks ascetically simple, a powerful throne that blends discreetly into the room - large as an earlobe armchair but transparent so that you can see the walls and floors...
In the first prototypes, the back legs angled in several planes, later in one plane and finally we managed to create completely straight back legs that shoot up like two spears from the ground. Between the back legs and the seat, the armrests form a frame that makes the chair very stable."

– Nirvan Richter, designer

"Since Norrgavel is guided by the idea that everything should go back to nature, all our furniture is made from natural materials."

Production at Norrgavel is customer order-driven, which means that each piece of furniture is madefor a specific customer.The Wooden armchair is manufactured in either solid oak or beech, which is then surface treated with white oil, oil or soap (oak also brown oil). It is also available in tempera colour or water-based varnish. There is further opportunity to personalise the Wooden armchair through the choice of upholstery. Among the options are a wide range of upholstery fabrics in sustainable natural materials and skins that only get more beautiful with age - vegetable tanned cowhide from Tärnsjö, vegetable tanned and undyed sheepskin and vegetable tanned reindeer skin or chrome-free tanned cowhide from Danish Sørensen.

To achieve the soft curves in the Wooden Armchair's back, steam bending is used – a time-consuming craft to shape solid wood. Once the wood has dried completely, the furniture components are processed into a finished form. Even the upholstered seat is a time-consuming craft in curled, linen weave, horsehair, cotton wadding, cotton ticking, and hemp.

Since Norrgavel has chosen to work with sustainable natural materials, our furniture will age beautifully and naturally. Moreover, the materials we use also enjoy being used. Thinking in terms of sustainability is a non-negotiable principle and the very foundation of our approach to furniture making.

"Tempera is the most naturally pure color we could find."

Many customers choose to have their Armchair painted in one of our beautiful tempera colors. And egg tempera, in particular, is a color strongly associated with Norrgaveland it's no coincidence that it has become so. Norrgavel's founder, Nirvan Richter, explains:

– Tempera is the most naturally pure color we could find. It's beautiful and so pleasant to live with; it settles like a thin matte veil over the wood surface and transforms with the changing light of the day - aging gracefully.

In Sweden, egg tempera has been used since medieval times. Originally, egg tempera paint was used for decorative painting and sculptures, but eventually, it became increasingly common on walls and furniture as well. Nowadays, many people choose egg tempera for environmental and health reasons, thanks to its pure and natural content – free from additives or solvents. Others choose egg tempera simply because it produces an incomparably beautiful result. Additionally, egg tempera is a very durable and long-lasting paint.