Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
ORIGINS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of Scandinavian design appear in the furnishings and decor created by Danish, Finnish and Swedish designers not as a stylistic gesture, but rather as a practical, ergonomic — and, as importantly, elegant — response to the human form.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Greta Magnusson Grossman and Bruno Mathsson — creators of the classic Grasshopper lighting series and Berlin daybed, respectively — but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the 1920s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced pieces in the Scandinavian style based on influences from folklore to Cubism; his skills were passed on to his versatile and inspired pupils Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Likewise, Finland produced a truly ingenious Scandinavian modern furniture designer in the architect Alvar Aalto, a master at melding function and artistic form in works like the Paimio chair, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. Yet Finnish glassware was pre-eminent, crafted in expressive, sculptural designs by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva.
The Danes excelled at chairs. Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen were exemplars of the country’s facility with wood, particularly teak.
Wegner created such iconic pieces as the Round chair and the Wishbone chair; Jacobsen — while the revolutionary architect and furniture innovator produced the best-selling plywood Ant chair — designed two classic upholstered pieces of the 1950s: the Swan chair and Egg chair. The list of great Danes could go on and on, including Finn Juhl, a stylistic maverick and maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Verner Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
Today, decades after their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight, and interior designers all over the world use their pieces to bring warmth to any given space.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern chairs, sofas, rugs and tables — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries.
Original Photo of Interior, Bruno Matthson, Alvar Aalto, Stylclair, 1951
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Børge Mogensen - Framed Photograph A, 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful framed photograph depicting Børge Mogensen's house at Soløsevej in Gentofte, Denmark. Picture frame by Børge Mogensen in solid oregon pine with brass corner details made in...
Wood, Paper
Original Photo of Furniture, Interior by Finn Juhl / Denmark, 1956
By Finn Juhl
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - Suitable for framing. jr
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture/armchairs - Denmark
By Finn Juhl
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of german furniture - 1950
By Vereinigte Werkstätten München
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Børge Mogensen - Framed Photograph B, 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful framed photograph depicting Børge Mogensen's house at Soløsevej in Gentofte, Denmark. Picture frame by Børge Mogensen in solid oregon pine with brass corner details made in...
Wood, Paper
Original Photo of Finn Juhl furniture - 1950s
By Finn Juhl
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Original photo of 1930s Bauhaus tubular steel chrome desk with chair - 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of 1930s german garden tubular steel furniture - 1950
By Vereinigte Werkstätten München
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture/armchairs - Sweden
By Gustaf Axel Berg, Bruno Mathsson, Axel Larsson
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Børge Mogensen - Framed Photograph C, 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful framed photograph depicting Børge Mogensen's house at Soløsevej in Gentofte, Denmark. Picture frame by Børge Mogensen in solid oregon pine with brass corner details made in...
Wood, Paper
Original Photos of Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl armchairs - 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Original photo of Marcel Breuer lounge chair for Isokon - 1950
By Marcel Breuer, Isokon
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Original photo of Erich Dieckmann lounge chair from 1930s - 1950
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Photo of C EDVARD LUNDQUIST "Vilosov" armchair - 1950
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Børge Mogensen - Framed Photograph F, 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful framed photograph depicting Børge Mogensen's house at Soløsevej in Gentofte, Denmark. Picture frame by Børge Mogensen in solid oregon pine with brass corner details made in...
Wood, Paper
Børge Mogensen - Framed Photograph H, 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful framed photograph depicting Børge Mogensen's house at Soløsevej in Gentofte, Denmark. Picture frame by Børge Mogensen in solid oregon pine with brass corner details made in...
Wood, Paper
Børge Mogensen - Framed Photograph G, 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful framed photograph depicting Børge Mogensen's house at Soløsevej in Gentofte, Denmark. Picture frame by Børge Mogensen in solid oregon pine with brass corner details made in...
Wood, Paper
Original Photo of furniture/interior by P.F.Schneider / WKS Mobel - 1952
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia - Museum of decorative arts in Prague - suitable for framing - photographed by Illek and Paul jr
Paper
Original Photo of furniture by Bruno Mathsson / Sweden - 1945
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1952 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - suitable for framing - photographed by Illek and Paul jr
Paper
”Summer Flowers” Abstract Expressionist Photo Collage by Peter Astrom
By Peter Astrom
Located in New York, NY
”Summer Flowers”, abstract expressionist photo collage print by Swedish artist Peter Astrom. Signed Astrom at bottom right margin, and New York 2010 botto...
Paper
"Breakfast By The Pool In Miami" Photo Collage Print by Peter Astrom
By Peter Astrom
Located in New York, NY
"Breakfast By The Pool In Miami", abstract expressionist photo collage print by Swedish artist Peter Astrom. Signed Astrom at bottom right margin, and New...
Paper
Bird in a Tree, Abstract Expressionist Photography Collage Print by Peter Astrom
By Peter Astrom
Located in New York, NY
"Bird In a Tree", abstract expressionist photo collage print by Swedish artist Peter Astrom. Signed Astrom at bottom right margin, and New York 2010 botto...
Paper
Peter Astrom, "Untitled 1", Abstract Expressionist Photo Collage Print
By Peter Astrom
Located in New York, NY
"Untitled 1", abstract expressionist photo collage print by Swedish artist Peter Astrom. Signed Astrom at bottom right margin, and New York 2010 bottom le...
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture/armchairs - Sweden
By Jorgen Wolff, Børge Mogensen
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Tecno Milano furniture - 1950 / Italy
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture/armchairs - Sweden
By Axel Larsen
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture - Sweden
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Original Photo of Interior, Bruno Matthson, Alvar Aalto, Stylclair, 1951
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Original 6 Photos of George Nelson furniture - 1950s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul and Trousil - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of 18 Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture - Sweden - 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Set of Original Photos of Interior, scandinavian furniture - Sweden
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic, marked - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr.
Paper
Original Photo of Furniture by Karl Erik Ekselius / Sweden, 1952
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1952 - Maker: Carlssons Mobelindustri - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - Suitable for framing - Photographed by Illek and Paul. jr
Paper
Original Photo of furniture by Sven-Erik Fryklund / AB Nordiska - Sweden -1957
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia - Museum of decorative arts in Prague - suitable for framing - photographed by Illek and Paul jr
Paper
Original Photo of interior/furniture - Switzerland / Zurich - 1950
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1951 - Museum of decorative Arts in Czech republic - photographed by Illek and Paul - suitable for framing jr
Paper