Foto: David Einar NygrenThe professorship is the first in Sweden in this academic field, and has been financed by a donation from Kerstin Skarne and Ann-Sofie Mattson, daughters of master builder John Mattson. It is linked to Carl Malmsten – Furniture Studies in Stockholm, where LiU conducts education in furniture studies.
In association with the establishment of the professorship, LiU and Nordiska museet entered into an in-depth collaboration for education and research that gives the students unique access to the museum collections and its experts.
Since being appointed, Johan Knutsson has worked with, among other things, a research programme with several branches: technology and aesthetics through the ages, the reuse of shapes throughout history, and the revival of neglected technology.
The education at Malmstens was incorporated into Linköping University in 2000. Operations were conducted for many years in rather crowded premises, but could move in the autumn of 2009 into a specially designed building on Lidingö. The dedicated buildings and workshops contain exhibition spaces, studios, laboratories, etc. In association with the opening of the new building, John Mattson’s daughters donated funds for a new scientific library and student scholarships.