Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Oak
1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Fabric, Bentwood
1960s French Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Teak
1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Teak
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Wood
1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Suede, Oak
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Bouclé, Mahogany
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Bouclé, Wood
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Walnut
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech, Teak
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Wood
1950s American Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Walnut
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Cowhide, Leather, Teak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Teak
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Teak
Mid-20th Century Dutch Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Teak
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Wood
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Wool, Oak
1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Wool, Oak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Wool, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Teak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech, Pine
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Walnut
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Teak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Velvet, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Teak
Late 20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Upholstery, Beech, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Macedonian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Chenille, Beech
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Teak
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Wool, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Teak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Beech, Fabric
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Beech
1970s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Mohair
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Sheepskin, Beech
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Cane, Birch
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Beech
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Wood
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Rosewood
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather
1950s Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Scandinavian Retro Lounge
Leather, Wood
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Scandinavian Retro Lounge For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Scandinavian Retro Lounge?
A Close Look at scandinavian-modern Furniture
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
- Emerged in the 1930s
- Originated primarily in Denmark, Sweden and Finland
- Introduced in the United States in mid-20th century
- Informed by the Bauhaus and modernism; influenced American mid-century modernism
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries
- Use of natural materials — native woods such as pine, ash and beech
- Open, airy spaces
- Promotion of functionality
- Emphasis on craftsmanship; rooted in cabinetry profession and traditional construction techniques
- Minimal ornamentation (little to no embellishment)
- A neutral or light color palette owing to prominence of light woods
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Alvar Aalto
- Hans Wegner
- Kaare Klint
- Arne Jacobsen
- Greta Magnusson Grossman
- Finn Juhl
- Arne Vodder
- Verner Panton
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.
Finding the Right lounge-chairs for You
While this specific seating is known to all for its comfort and familiar form, the history of how your favorite antique or vintage lounge chair came to be is slightly more ambiguous.
Although there are rare armchairs dating back as far as the 17th century, some believe that the origins of the first official “lounge chair” are tied to Hungarian modernist designer-architect Marcel Breuer. Sure, Breuer wasn’t exactly reinventing the wheel when he introduced the Wassily lounge chair in 1925, but his seat was indeed revolutionary for its integration of bent tubular steel.
Officially, a lounge chair is simply defined as a “comfortable armchair,” which allows for the shape and material of the furnishings to be extremely diverse. Whether or not chaise longues make the cut for this category is a matter of frequent debate.
The Eames lounge chair, on the other hand, has come to define somewhat of a universal perception of what a lounge chair can be. Introduced in 1956, the Eames lounger (and its partner in cozy, the ottoman) quickly became staples in television shows, prestigious office buildings and sumptuous living rooms. Venerable American mid-century modern designers Charles and Ray Eames intended for it to be the peak of luxury, which they knew meant taking furniture to the next level of style and comfort. Their chair inspired many modern interpretations of the lounge — as well as numerous copies.
On 1stDibs, find a broad range of unique lounge chairs that includes everything from antique Victorian-era seating to vintage mid-century modern lounge chairs by craftspersons such as Hans Wegner to contemporary choices from today’s innovative designers.
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Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.
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