Maria Flap Folding Table in Karelian Birch attributed to Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, 1977

Vintage folding table model “Maria Flap” by Bruno Mathsson made in the most beautiful Karelian Birch veneer. Made in 1976 at Karl Mathsson, Värnamo, Sweden. The table is very versatile and can be used in many ways due to the ingenious folding design. In 1936, Bruno Mathsson launched his ingenious further development of the traditional folding table that has existed in Swedish homes since the 17th century. The table can be folded out or folded by one person. When the American magazine Everyday Art Quarterly in the mid-1950s wanted to illustrate an article about Swedish form in general, it was done with a single image, on Bruno Mathsson’s folding table. Karelian Birch presents one of the most uniquely beautiful burls on earth. It’s so exotic that Peter Carl Fabergé used the wood to make one of his Fabergé Eggs for the Russian Tsar in 1917. Interestingly, though, Karelian Birch is not a true burl. And Karelian Birch trees aren’t an actual species. Most, in fact, are Silver Birch trees that grow in the Karelian region between Finland and Russia. with the resulting flame-like grain figure or “burl” a product of certain landscape features and unique soils only found this small geographic area. An overall vibrant, golden color, the darker eyes in Karelian Birch’s figure create its famous “fire burl,” which resembles flames climbing up the veneer sheet. Its straight grain is fine textured and lustrous. Height: 29 in. (74 cm) Width: 10-109 in. (25-278 cm) Depth: 35 in. (90 cm)