We show you photos of the complete collection
Cheap, cheerful and mid-century authentic, get to it: Ikea recently reissued 26 pieces of furniture and accessory designs from Ikea catalogs from the 1950s-1970s. Many of the chairs, sofas, tables, lighting, textiles and dishes in the new ÅRGÅNG collection are quite affordable. Lookie that pretty red “Sila” pendant light — straight from 1956, and just $80.
Only available in stores
Ikea tell us that these products available in select stores. However, you can take a look online and get more information about sizes, materials, etc.. Right now, we know of no single link to the collection as a whole. We’ve asked Ikea about that, but meanwhile, here’s our suggestion for how to get to each of the 26 items:
- We have every single product in the collection in our slide show at the bottom of this page. Find the product name in our captions — type it into the search box at Ikea — and you then can ogle.
I guess we could put all 26 links in this story. But yikes. Ikea: We need a collection link, pretty please!
(Note: In the lead image above, the fabric and tripod lamp are not available in the U.S.)
A bit of history.
IKEA has throughout history always worked with fantastic designers. To the left you see an extract from the 1956 IKEA catalog with some of our designers whose pieces are now making its way back into history. It’s the IKEA circle of life.
To celebrate IKEA turning 70 years, we let a whole collection of faithful old servants from the 50s-70s reappear. The ÅRGÅNG Collection includes everything from furniture and lighting to textiles and tableware. It’s a great trip down memory lane for everyone interested in interior design. Still the simple timeless design will make each and every solitaire in the collection a centerpiece in homes of today.
We found plenty of inspiration and picked out “jewels” to give a new life. The collection ended up with 26 strong products, all with a true IKEA identity. Through this collection we strengthen the IKEA brand, add vitality – and some history – in our stores. Retro design is a big trend right now, so the timing for ÅRGÅNG Collection is just right!
A stroke of genius.
“A lovely little table, ultramodern in design with turned legs in two pieces. Top in beautiful rosewood and black copper-tipped legs. A table that was an immediate hit with ‘the connoisseurs’ at the store in Älmhult. Assemblable.”
That’s what Ingvar Kamprad himself wrote about LÖVET in the 1956 IKEA catalog. To help him he had his loyal friend Gillis Lundgren who served as the company’s marketing director at the time and who would later become the designer of some of the most classic pieces of IKEA furniture, including BILLY bookcase, ÖGLAN chair and TORE drawer unit.
- See our original story on the Lovbacken table (above), which was released last year.
Even though Gillis Lundgren didn’t design LÖVET, he has a strong link to the table. How? Well, when Gillis tried to put the table in his car, he discovered how bulky it was. So he removed the legs to make it easier to transport. This action led to the birth of the concept of flat packaging at IKEA. Furniture took less room to transport and customers assembled it themselves at home. Transport was expensive even back in those days and that stroke of genius helped IKEA to save money. Savings that allowed us to continue to lower our prices on quality furniture, like LÖVET. The idea that was born in 1955 with LÖVET table went on to define our entire approach to designing furniture. Then, now and in the future..
In addition to the LÖVBACKEN table, some of my favorites from the collection include the EKENÄSET armchair above…
The GÅRDSKÄR pendant light…(above)
The GAGNET, hoop style chair…(above)
The two styles of ARJEPLOG pendant lights… (above and below) And the SKOVEN rug in orange and black, (above) which could be a fun addition to a tiki lounge seating area or 70s style space.
Pam says she’s digging the dinnerware, too.
To see the entire ÅRGÅNG collection, view the slideshow below. Mega thanks to Mod Betty from Retro Roadmap, who was first to tip us to the story. Several other readers followed close at hand. Thank you, aa!
Readers — which pieces are your favorite?
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… click anywhere to move forward and look for previous and next buttons within photo to move back or forth… you can start or stop at any image:
Brooke says
Sadly, Ikea isn’t even bring any of these into Canada 🙁 I really wanted a couple of hoop chairs and the coffee table with brass legs.
lynda says
Does anyone know if both the back and the bottom cushion covers of the Ekenaset sofa zip off so the can be recovered? No chairs in Maryland area either.
Anusha says
I was so thrilled to see this (on Apt. Therapy) and we went out that very weekend and got one of the Gagnet hoop chairs! I really want one of the Ekenaset chairs too but they’re not sold in our West Sacramento Ikea … though the sofa is. What’s up with that? I really wish Ikea would stock every piece in every store, because they would probably make more sales that way. Very frustrating!
We would have bought another Gagnet chair but we’re saving up to get a Hennie chair from Serena & Lily. We grew up with rattan hoop chairs in our native country which is a tropical island. Rattan furniture is still popular there.
pam kueber says
Pier 1 always seems to have chairs like this, too — hoop chairs, I mean…
Joe Felice says
Apparently, I’m going to have to boogie on down to the Ikea store soon. Though it is Swedish, there’s no reason why it can’t borrow designs from across the border. Those Scandinavians are a lot alike anyway. I admire them for their common sense and forward thinking, traits we Americans used to have.
Scott says
Love the dishes. Great take on Ben Seibel’s Impromptu Pyramids dinnerware.
kim says
Love the hoop chair for the deck…wondering, can this be spray painted perhaps? With the black legs, turquoise or red/orange would really make it sing. Any ideas on whether the surface could handle paint? Is it real wicker?
pam kueber says
I am sure that online they give you a materials list. Rustoleum make paint that adheres to plastic even, these days.
Anusha says
We got the hoop chair and it’s real rattan. I don’t know whether it would work well outdoors because of this.
CyberCraft Robots says
We already had two of the Lovbaken side tables, which were reissued last year. So we zipped over for the similarly shaped (but larger and lower) Lovbaken coffee table. They will be in a different room, so not TOO matchy matchy! We love them all. They mix perfectly with our vintage Mid C seating pieces.
cathie says
Please note that “Lovbacken” is spelled incorrectly. There is no “e” (its not “love”), so if you go searching for it on ikea. com it will not show up. As much as I love this table, in person, meh, not so much. The top is obviously veneer (hey, its ikea), and the legs look plastic even though the website says they’re real wood. Not worth it for the money.
Mr. J says
To each his/her own.
I happen to LOVE the patterns on the veneer, as well as the look of the table legs. I have two Lovbacken side tables, one at each end of my mid-century modern style sofa. I think they were well worth the $59.99 each.
Ray says
We bought the SKOVEN Rug at our local IKEA in NYC. It goes perfect with our Moe Fiesta “M-2550-30”
Julie says
portland has the black/brass lamps. I wasn’t in the other departments the other day, though, so I am not sure about the other pieces.
Best thing, the PDX IKEA is about a mile from the airport! You could quite easily walk (or take the Max 1 stop), shop, take the next plane back home!