Behind the Designer:Stig Sandqvist
Stig Sandqvist’s name may not ring as loudly as some of his Scandinavian peers, but for those who know Swedish design from the inside out, his work represents a quiet and consistent force – one that merges utilitarian sensibility with understated elegance. As a designer and craftsman active primarily in the 1960s and 70s, Sandqvist created furniture that speaks of a different pace of life – thoughtful, slow, and built to endure.
Born in Sweden in 1931, Sandqvist came of age during the post-war reconstruction era, a time when functionality, material availability, and democratic design ideals shaped the future of Nordic interiors. Unlike more concept-driven designers, Sandqvist was rooted in the tradition of applied design – creating pieces for real homes, real spaces, and real people. He worked closely with regional manufacturers and family-owned ateliers across Sweden, designing furniture that was durable enough for everyday use but refined enough to age gracefully.
The hallmark of Sandqvist’s work is clarity. His pieces – whether lounge chairs, dining sets, or cabinetry – are always grounded in proportion, craftsmanship, and material honesty. He often worked in solid pine and oak, preferring the tactile quality and character of untreated wood to lacquered or veneered surfaces. The grain was not something to hide, but something to highlight. This love of raw material lends a warmth to his work that still resonates with today’s move toward organic interiors and natural textures.
Among Sandqvist’s most enduring designs are his high-back lounge chairs and minimalist sideboards – both of which are beginning to see a revival among Scandinavian collectors. His seating designs are typically low-slung and ergonomic, often with softly angled arms and leather or canvas support straps. These are chairs meant for daily life, not exhibition pedestals – and yet, their sculptural restraint makes them just as at home in a gallery or curated interior.
One particularly distinctive Sandqvist detail is the use of exposed joinery – often finger joints or wedged tenons – which not only add visual interest but also emphasize his commitment to craftsmanship. These features aren’t decorative. They’re structural, functional, and made to last. In an era of increasing mechanization, Sandqvist held onto the hand of the maker. His pieces reveal the process – and celebrate it.
Despite his contribution to Swedish furniture culture, Sandqvist never sought the limelight. He wasn’t part of the design media circuit or major international fairs. Instead, he let the work speak. His furniture was sold through small retailers, local workshops, and regional catalogues. That humility is part of what makes rediscovering Sandqvist so rewarding: each piece feels like a hidden gem, a well-kept secret, waiting to be appreciated again.
Today, as vintage Scandinavian design continues to gain global appreciation, Sandqvist’s work is quietly finding its audience – especially among interior designers and collectors who value minimalism with substance. His furniture doesn’t try to impress; it invites use. It wears in, not out. And in the age of fast furniture, that’s a radical quality.
At Design Preowned, Stig Sandqvist holds a special place in our restoration philosophy. His work exemplifies everything we stand for: sustainability, repairability, and timelessness. His chairs and cabinets arrive with decades of use etched into the grain – and rather than erase that story, we work with it. Whether it’s re-oiling a dry oak surface, repairing a joinery crack, or replacing worn leather straps, our goal is to reveal the piece’s integrity, not remake it.
We’ve had the pleasure of restoring several of Sandqvist’s originals – and each time, we’re struck by the same thing: how current they feel. Not in a trendy sense, but in their relevance. They speak to a slower, more intentional way of living – and to a belief that furniture should serve us for a lifetime, not a season.
For Edward Gubi, founder of Design Preowned and third-generation custodian of a design legacy, Sandqvist’s work embodies the ethos passed down from his grandfather’s era: craftsmanship first, always. As we continue to uncover and revive Scandinavian classics, names like Sandqvist remind us that some of the most lasting design was never meant to be flashy – just well made, and well loved.
In a design world increasingly dominated by branding and spectacle, Stig Sandqvist’s work offers a welcome alternative. His furniture doesn’t chase attention. It earns respect. And for that reason, it continues to find its way – quietly but surely – into the next generation of spaces that value depth over display.