THE year is 1951 and in the village of Liatorp, just outside Älmhult in southern Sweden, a craftsman at Qvarnström's furniture factory is making a chair.
He cannot imagine that the wing chair he is making will one day be considered a classic by one of the world's largest furniture companies and a personal favourite of IKEA's founder Ingvar Kamprad. The chair, which was named MK, was in 2012, 61 years later, back in the range under the name Strandmon.
The 50s was the heyday of the wing chair. The furniture manufacturer Qvarnström had its factory near the small community of Älmhult in southern Sweden (where IKEA has its origins and where much of the company's activities are still located). And this was the manufacturer that Ingvar Kamprad asked to make a really good wing chair that more people would be able to afford.
The MK chair was considered: "Top modern with royal comfort" and: "A quality chair made with Swedish handiwork" according to the first IKEA catalogues.
It was also one of the most popular furniture pieces in St. Erik's Fair, which was the equivalent to today's Furniture Fair in Stockholm. And it was one of the pieces shown in 1952 in the local furniture store ELFS's showroom in Älmhult, which would be the forerunner of today's IKEA store.
Today Strandmon is complemented with a footstool. It has a 50s style, but we use furniture differently today than we did back then.
Children may lie across the chair and adults may stand next to it, leaning on the wings. That puts an added strain on the sides of the chair, which is something Strandmon should be able to cope with.
Its purpose, after all, is to create a better everyday life at home. The high back on this chair also provides extra support for your neck. Strandmon comes in grey or blue.
IKEA Croydon, Valley Park, off Purley Way, Croydon, CR0 4UZ. Alternatively visit the websitewww.ikea.com/gb/en/ store/croydon
