Ikea Just Recreated a Bona Fide Rival to a Mid-Century Design Masterpiece

The Swedish furniture giant has revived a 1960s design that might look like a cheap dupe, but actually has an impressive design pedigree all its own.

Ikea

By Ben Bowers

Published 3 hours ago

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When it comes to furniture that defines mid-century modern cool, few designs rival the timeless appeal of the Womb Chair, originally conceived by famed Finnish architect and designer Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll since the 1940s.

With its sculptural curves and enveloping form, the Womb Chair has long been a symbol of high-end design sensibility — with a price tag to match, often exceeding $7,000.

But now, Ikea has dug into its own archives to offer something remarkably similar at a fraction of the cost with an impressive, albeit lesser known, design pedigree of its own.

A new name for a classic look

Two modern red fabric lounge chairs with metal sled bases on a white tiled floor next to a white side table with a vase and cup. — This chair was originally called the Puck when it was first launched by Ikea in 1969. The modern reincarnation of the design has been renamed to Sotenaes.

The Sotenaes armchair, now part of Ikea’s Nytillverkad collection, is a revival of a design originally launched in 1969 under the name Puck.

Like its more expensive counterpart, the Sotenaes features a wide, sweeping shell that cradles sitters, supported by a sturdy tubular steel frame.

Red upholstered lounge chair with curved back and black metal legs on a white background. — The Womb Chair, originally conceived by famed Finnish architect and designer Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll since the 1940s, has inspired plenty of other furniture designers over the the last 80 years.

It’s also available in vibrant hues – Hakebo yellow and a bold red – that mimic some of the Womb chair’s most classic looks, bringing retro energy to any space.

The low profile and wide seat invite you to sink in and stay awhile, whether you’re reading, lounging, or entertaining.

Plus, impeccable credentials

Older man in a blue shirt and black pants standing next to white bookshelves filled with white books. — The Sotenaes’s designer, Gillis Lundgren, was responsible for 400 Ikea designs over his career – including the brand’s iconic Billy bookcase.

Though the parallels with Saarinen’s work are clear, the Sotenaes is more than just an affordable dupe. The chair’s creator, Gillis Lundgren, while not as widely known as Saarinen, was a titan of furniture design in his own right.

Close-up of a yellow metal chair leg with a black fabric seat underside on a white surface.

After starting his career at Ikea in advertising, he soon became one of Ikea’s earliest design innovators.

Over the course of his career, he would create over 400 Ikea product designs – some of which rank among the most recognizable pieces of furniture on earth, including one Ikea’s most successful and iconic products, the Billy bookcase.

Pricing and availability

Bright yellow modern lounge chair with metal legs on a black and white patterned rug. — At a price of just $299, the Sontenas costs twenty times less than even the cheapest incarnations of Knoll’s Womb chair.

While the Womb Chair typically retails for over $5,000, the Sotenas offers a similar aesthetic and a comfortable feel for just $299.

For design enthusiasts working within a budget, it’s a rare opportunity to bring home a piece with genuine design history and visual impact.

Yellow modern lounge chair with curved fabric seat and tubular metal legs.

Ikea Sotenaes Armchair

$299 at IKEA

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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