Carl-Gustaf Hiort af Ornäs Pair of Mandarin Chairs, Black Leather, Finland 1960s

A sculptural pair of Mandarin lounge chairs designed by Carl Gustaf Hiort af Ornäs, Finland, circa 1960. With their softly futuristic presence and organic clarity, these chairs embody the poetic side of Finnish modernism. The distinctive, cup-shaped swivel seats emerge from a cone-inspired geometry, creating a form that feels both timeless and quietly experimental.

Reupholstered in natural black leather, the chairs gain a refined depth that accentuates their flowing lines. The teak legs introduce warmth and balance, grounding the design while allowing the seat’s sculptural character to remain the focal point. When viewed from different angles, the chairs reveal subtle references to Japanese origami, a source of inspiration Hiort af Ornäs himself acknowledged during the design process.

A rare and expressive pair that works effortlessly in both intimate interiors and architectural spaces.

Carl-Gustaf “Nalle” Hiort af Ornäs (1911–1996) was a Finnish interior architect and designer, known especially for his Siesta armchair, which appeared in 1952. In 1945, Hiort af Ornäs founded Puunveisto Oy, for which he developed versatile techniques for processing plywood. Hiort af Ornäs spent his retirement years in Spain, where he designed several buildings in the Los Pacos neighborhood in Fuengirola, popular with Finns.