Greta Magnusson Grossman desks

Greta Magnusson Grossman (1906-1999) was one of Sweden's most influential designers and architects, with an international career that spanned from Europe to the United States. Born in Helsingborg and educated at Tekniska skolan in Stockholm, now known as Konstfack, Grossman began her career as an apprentice carpenter. 

Greta Magnusson Grossman 1906 – 1999 

With a passion for furniture and interior design, she later opened her own design studio at Stureplan in Stockholm, where she created furniture and interior details in a style marked by Scandinavian functionality and modernist simplicity. 

After running her own business for nearly 10 years, Greta Magnusson Grossman chose to emigrate to the United States with her husband, settling in Los Angeles. There, she secured well-known furniture producers as clients, including Barker Brothers, Ralph O. Smith & Co., and most notably Glenn of California. For these companies, she designed modern furniture, lamps, and other home furnishings. 

Over the next few decades, Greta Magnusson Grossman became a leading figure in modern and experimental architecture. Her ability to create buildings perfectly suited to the hilly areas of Beverly Hills brought her great success, and she was featured in the magazine Arts & Architecture. In Sweden, a house designed by Magnusson Grossman is located in Hudiksvall. 

Iconic Works by Magnusson Grossman 

Although Greta Magnusson Grossman found success in architecture, she is perhaps best known for her furniture and lighting designs. Among her creations is the 62 series, a furniture collection consisting of desks, cabinets, and dressers. The series was created in 1952 and named 62 because Magnusson Grossman believed it was ten years ahead of its time. Her most famous creations include the Grasshopper lamp, an iconic floor lamp produced by the Danish design company Gubi. The Grasshopper lamp is available today in various colors and materials but always retains its characteristic tilted design and slim profile. 

Another well-known work by Grossman is the Cobra lamp, a table lamp that is both functional and stylish. The Cobra lamp’s form follows a minimalist design language, with a flexible neck that allows the light to be directed in different ways. This combination of form and function is typical of Grossman’s work, where she always sought to unite aesthetics and practicality. Greta Magnusson Grossman passed away in 1999 in San Diego, USA. She left behind several modern design classics from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s that are still appreciated by people around the world.