(TGM-BM.1977:343)
This sofa used to belong to polar explorer Hjalmar Johansen (1867-1913) from Skien. The sofa is from the time he lived at Bratsberggata 13, and it was given to the museum by his daughter Margit Johansen. As a polar explorer, he never received much recognition during his lifetime. Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen received most of the attention, even though Hjalmar was a very important contributor to the success of the polar voyages. In addition to being a polar explorer, Johansen was also an accomplished gymnast and skier. In 1885 he was one of the founders of Idrætsforeningen Odd (Odd sports club), and in the following years he was an active athlete, who in 1889 became a world champion in gymnastics.