Stylecraft X Eikund Bring Mid-Century Norwegian Design to Australia.

When thinking of Norway, one is likely to picture awe-inspiring landscapes, fjords, oil and fishing industries. And, perhaps, Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

Some lesser-known facts about Norway are its rich design history and a long tradition of craftsmanship ranging from boat building, weaving, felting to rosemaling, Viking art and furniture making. Yet somehow, Norway is often overshadowed by its neighbours in Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Enter Eikund. A furniture company ready to shake things up and prove that Norway is no underdog of Nordic design.

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The company is inspired by Norway’s pristine natural environment. “We never take nature for granted. We’re inspired by nature every day, to find ways to improve and do better.” Read more about Eikun’s Green initiatives here. Photos taken at Egersund by Bjørn Hagen Aakre.

Eikund’s mid-century designers (left to right): Eikund Fredrik, Kayser Torbjorn & Bekken Arne Tjomslan.

Oya Dining Table.

Hertug Dining Chair.

Veng Armchair.

Founded in Hellvik in 2016 by Morten Hippe, Frode Tingbø and Jørgen Tengesdal, Eikund’s mission is to uncover long-lost Norwegian design classics and bring them back into production for the world to enjoy. The discovery of these designs was a real labour of love, which saw them scouring attics and archives to source original drawings and information about each product.

Stylecraft now welcomes the Norwegian company into their stable of leading European brands, exclusively bringing these iconic pieces to the Australian market. Eikund’s collection represents the work of several designers who were prominent during the 50s and 60s, aka ‘The Golden Era’ of Norwegian design, such as Fredrik Kayser, Torbjørn Bekken and Bendt Winge.

Fluffy Lounge in Black. Fluffy is made from European oak and American walnut, combined with Norwegian sheepskin.

Norweigan sheep, Spælsau.

According to Eikund, “a great product is timeless by design, made in durable, quality materials that are made to last.” We couldn’t agree more.

The company is committed to sustainable production across the board. Shown here is eco-friendly vegetable-tanned leather, a natural material managed using processes and chemicals that are safer for the environment.

The re-issued chairs, lounge chairs, tables and accessories aren’t recreations but rather original designs themselves. Equal parts elegant and nostalgic, each item has been designed and manufactured to withstand daily use and to be passed through generations. These timeless pieces make for wonderful additions to homes as well as retail spaces, bars, restaurants and hotels.

A stunning combination of classic mid-century aesthetic and high-quality manufacturing, Eikund’s collection is perfectly poised to stand the test of time, exemplifying simple, functional and superbly crafted design.

The range includes three chairs from Fredrik A. Kayser, a well-loved Scandinavian furniture designer from the mid-twentieth century. “His furniture is characterized by elegant design and material sensitivity, with a rare sense of proportions and composition,” explain the founders.

Krysset leather upholstery is from Eikund’s house range includes natural, dark brown or black with the rope for the sewn backrest in a matching colourway. The timber frame is available in solid Oak in white oil, natural oil, black stain or soaped finish or solid Walnut with an oil finish.

With its distinctive cross-legged silhouette, Krysset lounge chair is his most notable piece and a true Norwegian icon. Designed in 1955, Krysset features a solid timber frame with an aniline leather backrest stretched out like a sail and sewn into the frame.

“The front and back legs are fixed together by four wood nails that in a refined way emphasize the construction,” explain the founders. “Kayser was inspired by the trends of the time, but always managed to give his creations a unique personal touch, with an elegance that made them instant classics.”

Fluffy is available in both a white and black fur version with various wood base options including; soaped oak, white oiled oak, oiled oak and smoked oak. This is a brand-new species that can live simply anywhere. Photo by Anna Stathaki.

Kayser’s Fluffy Lounge Chair is another standout in the collection. Ok, seriously though – how freaking fun is this chair?! Draped in ultra-soft Norwegian sheepskin, its sloping armrests basically pull you in for a welcoming embrace.

“Kayser graduated from National Academy of Craft and Art Industry back in 1945 and the lounge chair was designed while being employed at Rastad & Relling Tegnekontor,” explain the founders. “It combines both art and function into one, a floating cloud of fluffiness that builds on the past for the present.”

Hertug Dining Chair.

Evja Coffee Table.

Veng Armchair.

Designed by Puroplan, Amerikalinjen Hotel in Oslo is a project layered with subtle nostalgic references as well as forward-thinking design.

The guest rooms feature an assortment of iconic pieces from Eikund including Torbjørn Bekken’s Evja coffee tables, Veng armchairs and Hertug dining chairs. There is also a bespoke black version of Fluffy commissioned by the owner, Petter Stordalen.

Designed in 1955 by Arne Tjomsland, Isbjørn is characterized by simplified organic shapes and soft yet defined lines. It’s available in two sizes and in natural Oak or white satin lacquer.

An unexpected member of the collection is Isbjørn, Arne Tjomsland’s delightful interpretation of a polar bear dating back to 1955. “Arne Tjomsland was Norway’s leading designer of small-scaled figures in the 1950s and ‘60s, a self-taught creator originally working with advertisement and toy design. He gave shape to animals from the Nordic fauna, as well as Inuits and Vikings, in wood and whalebone.”

Isbjørn was first made from teak and was inspired by Polar literature that Tjomsland read as a child and the time he spent with his father at the Zoological Museum in Oslo.

For more information on Eikund collections exclusively available at Stylecraft, visit stylecraft.com.au/eikund.