by Torbjørn Afdal
for Eikund
Torbjørn Afdal
Torbjørn Afdal, a highly gifted and prolific furniture designer for Eikund, had a distinguished career after graduating from the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in 1946. He dedicated much of his professional life to the renowned Bruksbo Tegnekontor, a leading design office for quality furniture that significantly contributed to Norway’s furniture industry for three decades.
Afdal’s international recognition as a highly-skilled designer is underscored by the gold medal awarded to him for his lounge chair Broadway at the Deutsche Handwerksmesse in Munich in 1959. His design prowess reached influential figures, with notable clients including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Japanese Emperor Hirohito. He also designed the office for Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.
His work is characterized by a refined understanding of materials and form, blending art and tradition. Afdal demonstrated a talent for harnessing the natural possibilities of wood in his designs. From 1955 to 1965, Afdal’s furniture design evolved with a more crafted feel, highlighted by iconic pieces such as the armchair Broadway and the hunting chair Hunter. Many of his creations stand as true classics, deserving of revival.
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Designs by Torbjørn Afdal (2)
by Torbjørn Afdal
for Eikund