Scandinavian Designer Natural Wood Black Dining Bench
Located in Paris, FR
dining table. This bench is made of sustainable birch plywood using CNC cut with innovating waste
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Benches
Birch
Scandinavian Designer Natural Wood Black Dining Bench
Located in Paris, FR
dining table. This bench is made of sustainable birch plywood using CNC cut with innovating waste
Birch
$1,191
H 17.33 in W 28.35 in D 15.75 in
Alvar Aalto 'Ritiläpenkki' Birch Bench Model 153B, Artek 1970s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
Iconic bench model 153 designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured by Artek in the 1960s. The bench is
Birch
Swedish Bench in Birch by Nesto Möbel AB, Sweden 20th Century
By Nesto
Located in Utrecht, NL
Swedish and Scandinavian designers of the 20th century often took inspiration from the beauty of
Birch
$1,000
H 17.5 in W 28.25 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Birch Slatted Bench by Alvar Aalto for Artek C1970
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic simple and elegant design by Alvar Aalto for Artek. Choice bleached and varnished birch
Birch
$1,420
H 17.75 in W 44.25 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Slatted Birch Bench by Alvar Aalto for Artek C1970
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous slatted bench in hand selected birch designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek. In excellent
Birch
$1,668Sale Price|30% Off
H 17.72 in W 53.55 in D 15.75 in
Alvar Aalto Bench with Johanna Gullichsen Helios Fabrics
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek bench from circa 1960s, designed by Alvar Aalto. The bench has recently been reupholstered
Fabric, Birch
Alvar Aalto Bench with War Time Legs by Artek 1940s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek lattice bench with finger-jointed wartime legs. Designed by Alvar Aalto, and manufactured
Birch
Alvar Aalto Bench with War Time Legs by Artek in 1940s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek bench with finger-jointed wartime legs. Designed by Alvar Aalto, and manufactured during war
Birch, Fabric
$4,500Sale Price|25% Off
H 14 in W 40 in D 13 in
Pair of hand crafted solid Teak benches or nightstands with single drawers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of mid century studio made benches or nightstands details take center stage in this unique
Birch, Teak
Alvar Aalto console, model for Arkek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Skokie, IL
artistic elegance. Dimensions: 28” h x 28 1/2” w x 16” d Materials: birch, laminated birch Condition
Birch
Scandinavian vintage "Visingsö" birch bench by Carl Malmsten
By Carl Malmsten
Located in Brescia, IT
Bench model "Visingsö" designed by Carl Malmsten. Made of birch with tapered legs and handcrafted details. Scandinavian bench "Visingsö" designed by Carl Malmsten, one of the most i...
Birch
$8,042
H 25.6 in W 42.92 in D 17.72 in
Functionalist Entryway bench by Axel Einar Hjorth, NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Functionalist entryway bench with drawers and small cabinet by Axel Einar Hjorth. Made from beech
Birch
Alvar Aalto, Artek X-Leg/Fan Leg Bench/stool, 1954
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Los Gatos, CA
Rare model with wider dimensions. Alvar Aalto, X-leg or fan leg bench/stool, Artek, 1954 Artek
Birch
Early Bruno Mathsson black formica Annika bench
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Early and rare Annika bench from Bruno Matthsons workshop. Original black formica and dark stained
Formica, Birch
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Bench
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Elegant Swedish birch bench, circa 1890. Shaped arms and back, with open panel fish like design
Birch
Scandinavian Birch Hall Bench
Located in Denton, TX
Antique vanity bench made of a combination of elm and birch with new sherpa faux fur upholstery.
Upholstery, Wood
Alvar Aalto Bench in Birch, Artek, Finland, 1950s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Karis, Nyland
Rare customized bench designed by Alvar Aalto, Finland, circa 1950s. Comes from closed school
Birch
Sold
H 16.15 in W 16.15 in L 16.15 in
Pair of Scandinavian Modern Alvar Aalto Y61 Stools in Birch and Leather Seat
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Stockholm, SE
Finnish icons! A pair of Scandinavian Modern Alvar Aalto stool Y61 in birch with original leather
Leather, Birch
Alvar Aalto Bench
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Alvar Aalto bench in birch.
Birch
Alvar Aalto Bench
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Artek bench, birch with original light beige faux leather upholstery. Designed by Alvar Aalto. Good
Fabric, Birch
Sold
H 17.52 in W 16.15 in D 16.15 in
Custom List for Sandra, three Alvar Aalto Y61 Stools in Birch and Leather Seat
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Stockholm, SE
Finnish icons! A pair of Scandinavian Modern Alvar Aalto stool Y61 in birch with original leather
Leather, Birch
1940's Petit Curved Danish Bench
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Turners Falls, MA
Petit 1940's Danish Upholstered Bench with wood legs. Bench is slightly curved and in the style of
Upholstery, Birch
"Småland" Bench by Yngve Ekström for Stolab, Sweden, 1960s
By Yngve Ekström
Located in Karis, Nyland
Beautiful rare bench "Småland" designed by Yngve Ekström in Sweden around 1950. This unique
Birch
Alvar Aalto L-Leg Bench/ Table Model 106
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Highland, IN
This exceptional example of Allto's slat bench/ table by Artek dates to circa 1948 and was sold at
Birch
Alvar Aalto 153A Bench for Artek in Black Lacquer
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Glendale, CA
its original manufacturer, Artek of Finland. This bench is executed in solid birch wood with black
Birch
Bench Designed by Aino Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1950s
By Aino Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Birch and cane. Measures: L 100 cm/ 39 3/8" D 40 cm/ 15 3/4" H 40 cm/ 15 3/4" Provenance
Cane, Birch
Sold
H 17.33 in W 44.3 in D 17.52 in
Early and Rare Version of Artek Bench "153b" by Alvar Aalto, 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Turku, Finland
Aalto bench is a design classic by Alvar Aalto from 1945. Even though it dates back to decades ago
Birch
Pair of Antique Swedish Karl Johan Birch Stools, circa 1860-1890
By Karl Johan
Located in Round Top, TX
upholstery that complement the yellow flame birch and painted black finials. Both benches are tight and
Sold
H 34.5 in W 77.5 in L 34.5 in
Scandinavian Biedermeier Sofa or Upholstered Bench in Birch, circa 1830
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A Swedish Karl Johan sofa or daybed in birch with upholstered back, sides and seat, with curved
Upholstery, Birch
Scandinavian Modern Vanity Bench, Sweden, circa 1950
Located in New York, NY
Simple and comfortable, this sleek, single bench features a padded seat atop slender, spooled
Birch
Bench/Coffee Table “Annika” Designed by Bruno Mathsson
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Bench/coffee table “Annika” designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1960s. Karelian
Birch
Sold
H 11.82 in W 66.93 in D 15.75 in
Bruno Mathsson Low Bench or Side Table by Karl Mathsson in Sweden
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare low bench or side table designed by Bruno Mathsson. Produced by Karl Mathsson in Värnamo
Birch, Oak
Alvar Alto Slat Bench 153A
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Highland, IN
A classic Aalto design, this solid birch slat bench was produced made in Finland by Artek and sold
Birch
Sold
H 16.15 in W 70.87 in D 10.24 in
Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara Pirkka Bench for Laukaan Puu, Finland, 1955
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Laukaan Puu
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Beautiful and rare Pirkka bench by Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara produced by Laukaan Puu in
Birch, Pine
Iconic Aalto Table Bench Model 106
By Alvar Aalto
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Aalto design end, side table, bench in solid wood, with slatted top. This example is vintage
Birch
Danish Lacquered Birch Sofa Bench c1940, vintage woven cover c1850
Located in Hudson, NY
A wonderful bench in three-seat sofa size with curved back on an exquisite lacquered birch frame
Birch, Wool
Sold
H 30.75 in W 69.5 in D 22.5 in
1970s Stig Lönngren Swedish Sofa/Bench with 19th century Coverlet Seating
By Stig Lönngren 1, H.I. Gruppen
Located in Hudson, NY
A marrying of vintage and modern with this curved birch sofa bench designed by Stig Lönngren for
Birch, Wool
$7,554
H 29.53 in W 88.19 in D 35.44 in
Large Expandable Alvar Aalto Wooden Dining Table Model 92, 1940s, Artek
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
This is a beautiful extending table model 92 by Alvar Aalto from 1940s. The body of the table is solid birch. The surface of the table is laminated by oak veneer. An extension leaf t...
Birch, Oak
$667Sale Price / item|55% Off
H 33.47 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Dining Chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, Model Razorblade, Denmark, Oak
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of striking dining chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, made of oak and boucle. Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Modernism. Model: Razorblade ...
Oak
$714Sale Price / item|52% Off
H 33.47 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Dining Chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, Model Razorblade, Denmark, Oak
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of striking dining chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, made of oak and vintage tobacco aniline leather. Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Moder...
Oak
$4,170
H 15.75 in W 31.5 in D 14.18 in
Josef Frank Bench in Mahogany and Brass Nails, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Josef Frank & SCANDINAVIAN MODERN A beautiful bench by Josef Frank, for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1960s. The frame is made of mahogany, upholstered seat with brass nails. The feet...
Fabric, Mahogany
Alvar Aalto Stool 60
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Miami, FL
Stool 60 designed by Alvar Aalto, strong patina with some chips. Please see picture 3 for accurate color.
Bentwood
Swedish Designer, Coffee or Side Table, Wood, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden coffee or side table designed and produced in Sweden, 1940s.
Wood
$3,800 / item
H 15 in Dm 19.63 in
VOLARE Large Pendant Light in Dark Bronze & Blown Glass by Blueprint Lighting
By Josef Hoffmann, Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Volare draws inspiration from a collection of ornate pendants discovered by founders Kelly and Josh during a family trip to Washington, D.C. Featuring a substantial 20" pressed-glass...
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
$1,155Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
$7,029
H 50.4 in W 31.89 in D 17.72 in
Swedish Modern 1940s Cabinet from Walfrid Svensson & Co in Karlstad
Located in Örebro, SE
This is the Swedish Modern 1940s cabinet from the furniture factory AB Walfrid Svensson & Co in Karlstad. It comes with stained oak burl veneered double doors, decorated with a bea...
Oak, Burl
Mid Century Wood Bench, Winchendon Furniture Co.
By Winchendon
Located in Riverdale, NY
Elegant Mid Century Wood Bench by the Winchendon Furniture Co. with shaped lobed back rest on a simple, sleek design with faceted and tapered legs. Circa 1950's USA. American Design ...
Wood, Cherry
Fumed Oak Round Top Foundation Side Table / Stool
Located in Portland, OR
Solid wood stool / side table in fumed white oak with round top. The fuming process reacts with the tannins in the wood and results in a color through, rich amber tone. With a clean ...
Oak
$13,702 / item
H 49.22 in Dm 70.87 in
Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...
Brass
Danish Designer, Chest of Drawers, Oak, Denmark, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
An oak chest of drawers designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1940s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 27.88"H x 29"W x 15.75"D All items ship from High Point, North Carolina.
Oak
Spindle Back Bench in Walnut and Ash
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Contemporary walnut bench handmade by Brian Holcombe utilizing the techniques of traditional Windsor chair making combined with traditional mortise and tenon joinery similar to that ...
Walnut
Vintage Aalto Table Round (Table 91) by Alvar Aalto for Artek
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
The Aalto Table conveys a relaxed familiarity that resists categorisation. With legs and edge-bands of Finnish birch, it radiates natural beauty and warmth, moving easily between p...
Bentwood
$29,787
H 61.82 in W 37.41 in D 17.72 in
Exceptional Bo Lindahl Cabinet in Walnut and Rosewood Marquetry, Sweden, 1953
Located in The Hague, NL
This exceptional cabinet was designed and handcrafted by Bo Lindahl in Sweden. This unique masterpiece was created as a journeyman's piece at the Central Workshop School in Häggvik, ...
Brass
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.
Don’t underestimate a good bench — antique and vintage benches are storage pieces, stylish accents and statement-making additional seating.
Today, benches are a great option to maximize seating in your house and outdoor space. The perfect option to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in foyers and entryways, benches can also transform dining areas, making it possible to host a hungry family with limited space. Whether you’re sprucing up your entertaining with upholstered Empire-style benches or adding more options to a dining room that’s seen a farmhouse makeover, this humble furnishing has only become more versatile over the years. Designers have recognized the demand for a good bench, crafting the convenient seating alternative from a range of materials, including wood, iron and even concrete.
Mid-century modern benches from George Nakashima, Charlotte Perriand and the pared-down Platform bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller are classics of innovation, but maybe you’re looking for an unconventional design approach to your home's seating. Opt for something totally outside the box — an antique pine church-pew bench paired with a vintage wool throw and stationed under the mounted coatrack in your mudroom is a distinctive touch.
For your outdoor oasis, a wrought-iron patio bench is the obvious choice but not the only option. An enclosed back patio would do well to inherit a rattan bench with cushions, but it can be susceptible to weathering and should be covered or moved indoors when not in use.
Whatever your seating arrangement needs are, find vintage, new and antique benches for every space on 1stDibs.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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.
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.