Asplund (Sweden)

Michael and Thomas Asplund founded Asplund Gallery to exhibit furniture as objects of fine art, and vice versa. Michael, originally an art dealer, had long thought about combining art and design within a business venture. In 1990, Thomas Asplund left his job as banker to team up with his brother. With their unconventional backgrounds, the duo brought fresh ideas to the industry. Seeing furniture as objects of art was a new way of thinking that quickly caught on. The Asplund brothers asked Jonas Bohlin to design the original Asplund Gallery in Stockholm. With its concrete floors and white washed walls, it was the quintessence of Scandinavian light. The gallery soon became a stage for contemporary Swedish design. Exhibits featured work by the likes of Jonas Bohlin, John Kandell and Thomas Sandell. The Asplund brothers began to develop their own line of furniture and design pieces under the name EDITION ASPLUND. Among the first items released was a CD rack and a stool, both designed by Thomas Sandell. The stool, released under the name Wedding Stool, was originally created as a wedding gift for Jonas Bohlin and his bride. By the end of 1995, Asplund had outgrown its original site and moved to larger premises. A showroom, three times the size, was chosen on Sibyllegatan 31. Sandra Adrian Asplund, Creative Director, joined the team in 1995 to define and develop the different parts of the company. In these early years Asplund Collection was exhibited under the joint-venture name SWECODE, short for Swedish Contemporary Design, at furniture fairs in Stockholm, Cologne and Milan, together with BOX, CBI, David Design and Forminord. The idea was together as a group, they could market Swedish design globally in a more powerful way. It became a success and all eyes were on Scandinavia. The ASPLUND Collection has grown substantially and is selling around the world through a network of dealers. The interest and the brand reputation is constantly expanding.

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