Magazine table

Designed by Bruno Mathsson for Firma Karl Mathsson

Sweden, 1964

This rare Bruno Mathsson magazine table for Firma Karl Mathsson, Värnamo, exemplifies Swedish modernism at its most intelligent and refined. Designed in 1964, the table pairs a gently rounded rectangular top in beautifully figured masur birch with Mathsson’s signature bent laminated birch legs, which give the piece its light, almost elastic stance.

Set into one side of the top are four inset apertures that hold sculptural magazine compartments in white lacquered metal. These integrated holders create a striking rhythm across the surface while offering generous storage for books, periodicals, or portfolios. The way the compartments dip below the tabletop and hover above the floor gives the design a distinct architectural quality, balancing mass and openness.

Branded FIRMA KARL MATHSSON, the table reflects Mathsson’s lifelong interest in ergonomics and everyday practicality, translated here into a hybrid of coffee table and magazine rack. The contrast between the warm birch and the crisp white metal underlines the piece’s modern character, making this vintage Bruno Mathsson table a compelling example of Scandinavian functionalism and an ideal focal point for a mid-century interior or design collection.