Functionalist Entryway bench by Axel Einar Hjorth, NK, Sweden, 1930s
By Nordiska Kompaniet, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Functionalist entryway bench with drawers and small cabinet by Axel Einar Hjorth. Made from beech, partially stained black. Clean lines with rounded corners, legs embossed with strip...
Birch
Kanon Bench, Entryway Seating in Blackened Ash
By Naturalstated Fabricators LLC
Located in North Little Rock, AR
The Kanon bench is a contemporary interpretation of the classic Windsor design. Its tightly spaced spindles create a striking visual while paying homage to time-honored design. Metic...
Hardwood, Ash
Unavailable
H 30 in W 48 in D 17 in
Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in White Ashwood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Ash
Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in Walnut Wood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Walnut
Unavailable
H 31 in W 54 in D 21 in
Fjoon Entryway Armed Bench/Settee, Hardwood Walnut Leather, Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
The Fjoon (pr. fyoon) collection rose out of a multi-year obsession with high end upholstery as well as an infatuation with wood joinery and principles of chair strength from the bro...
Wool, Hardwood, Ash
Unavailable
H 31 in W 48 in D 21 in
Fjoon Entryway Bench/Settee, Hardwood Walnut and Leather, Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
The Fjoon (pr. fyoon) collection rose out of a multi-year obsession with high end upholstery as well as an infatuation with wood joinery and principles of chair strength from the bro...
Wool, Hardwood, Ash
Unavailable
H 30 in W 72 in D 17 in
6' Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in Charcoal Ashwood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Ash
Unavailable
H 30 in W 72 in D 17 in
6' Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in Walnut Wood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Walnut
Unavailable
H 30 in W 60 in D 18 in
5' Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in White Ashwood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Ash
Unavailable
H 30 in W 60 in D 17 in
5' Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in Walnut Wood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Walnut
Unavailable
H 30 in W 72 in D 18 in
6' Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in White Ashwood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Ash
Unavailable
H 30 in W 60 in D 17 in
5' Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in Charcoal Ashwood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Ash
Unavailable
H 30 in W 48 in D 17 in
Oxbend Bench, Entryway Seat in Black Charcoal Ashwood by Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
This entryway bench, designed by Justin Nelson for Fernweh Woodworking, evolved out of the Oxbend dining chair, leading also to a matching bar stool. The Oxbend Collection was born f...
Ash
Unavailable
H 31 in W 48 in D 21 in
Fjoon Entryway Bench/Settee, Hardwood Charcoal Ash and Wool, Fernweh Woodworking
By Fernweh Woodworking
Located in Bend, OR
The Fjoon (Pair. fyoon) collection rose out of a multi-year obsession with high end upholstery as well as an infatuation with wood joinery and principles of chair strength from the b...
Wool, Hardwood, Ash
Scandinavian entryway bench
Located in Brescia, IT
Original Swedish 1960s "gossip chair" bench. A distinctive piece of furniture used at the time as a telephone call station, hence the name "gossip chair." Consists of a wooden base...
Fabric, Teak
Entryway Oak Bench, Vintage TV Cabinet
Located in Brescia, IT
Peculiar oak cabinet with two original Scandinavian drawers. Characterized by a simple and minimalist design. Thanks to the light shade of oak wood, it is also suitable for more m...
Oak
Cherry Wood Entryway Bench Paper Cord with Arms
Located in Ava, MO
Presenting this exceptional Cherry Entryway Bench with Paper Cord Seat. Beautifully tapered lines. Hand Made, one of a kind, acquired from the original owner who was an 80 year old...
Papercord, Cherry
$300
H 9.33 in W 7.33 in D 1.25 in
French Fir Deep Framed Wall Mirrors, Mid-Century Modern, 1940s, Pair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sold as Pair or Singles French 1940's Small Mirror
Fir
$1,668 / item
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
"Fit Side Table" by Josep Vila Capdevila in Cream Treated Travertine
By Josep Vila Capdevila
Located in Terrassa, Catalonia
The Fit Side Table is a sculptural side table crafted from solid travertine. Composed of five precisely cut stone elements, its construction reveals a careful balance between geometr...
Marble, Travertine
$2,750 / item
H 21.5 in W 24 in D 14.5 in
Undulating 'Méandre' Verdigris Iron and Glass Side Table by Design Frères
By Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Undulating 'Méandre' verdigris iron and glass side table by Design Frères. Chic and understated.
Iron
Lisa Johansson-Pape 'Lisa' Floor Lamp for Innolux Oy
By Innolux Oy, Lisa Johansson-Pape
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lisa Johansson-Pape 'Lisa' floor lamp for Innolux Oy. Originally produced in the 1950s by Orno, this newly authorized re-edition of the iconic lamp is made by Innolux in Finland usi...
Brass
$4,400
H 35.44 in W 82.09 in D 19.69 in
Low Sideboard in Oak, Mid Century Modern, Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Arne Vodder, Kurt Østervig, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
A sculptural low rectangular classic sideboard / cabinet in oak with plenty of storage and a beautiful carved front design. Made by a Danish cabinetmaker in the 1960s. Four doors, i...
Oak
$10,054 / set
H 31.5 in W 37.01 in D 34.65 in
Elegant Pair of French Art Deco Club Armchairs, 1935, New Upholstery
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant pair of French Art Deco Club Armchairs crafted in France in the 1930s. Very refined lines and sophisticated proportions that could remind us the work of French decorator Jacq...
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
Set of Four Art Deco Armchairs, France, 1920s-1930s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
A lovely and unusual set of four large Art Deco period armchairs, upholstered in beige velvet, with embroidered detailing on the backs. They have deep seats and tall backs. The...
$4,600
H 30 in W 120 in D 90 in
Weiman/Preview 3 Piece Sectional/Sofa w/ Boucle Upholstery, Circa 1970
By Preview, Weiman
Located in Chicago, IL
Weiman/Preview boucle upholstery, circa 1970. Original with brown boucle fabric. Measures 30” tall 120” long 90” deep at long end 34” deep from arm to front, seat height 17” seat dep...
Fabric, Bouclé
Set of 6 Fine French 1950s Walnut Dining Chairs
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Long Island City, NY
A set of six fine French Mid-Century solid walnut side chairs with a lattice back, in the manner of Jacques Adnet.
Fabric, Wood
A large pendant by Harald Notini
By Harald Notini
Located in Long Island City, NY
A ceiling lamps model “11555” designed by Harald Notini for Arvid Böhlmarks Lampfabrik, Stockholm, 1940s. Shade in ivory glass, braided rattan, brass. Glass shades H 23″, Drop 55″. ...
Blown Glass
$5,000
H 26.38 in W 27.96 in D 25.99 in
Vico Magistretti 930 "Carimate" Lounge Chair for Cassina, 1960
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti 930 "Carimate" lounge chair for Cassina, red-lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960. The 930 "Carimate" easy chair was created for the club house of 'Carimate's...
Straw, Wood
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in Dm 25.6 in
Art Deco Pedestal Table, Marble Patinated Hammered Nickeled Brass, Austria, 1910
By Wiener Werkstätte, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A pedestal table made of marble and a hammered and nickeled brass stand, manufactured in Vienna circa 1910. Partly the nickel plating is no longer present and the brass underneath is...
Marble, Brass, Nickel
Willy Rizzo "Love" Lamp, Italy
By Willy Rizzo
Located in San Francisco, CA
Willy Rizzo "Love" Lamp, Italy. Sophisticated chrome and brass decorative table lamp. Made with high quality construction techniques and materials. Illuminates a lovely all around gl...
Brass, Chrome
$17,742
H 32.29 in W 20.48 in D 24.41 in
Axel Einar Hjorth "Lovö" Rocking Chair in Pine by Nordiska Kompaniet Sweden 1930
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and early Swedish mid century modern wooden rocking chair model "Lovö" in stained pine by Axel Einar Hjorth produced by Nordiska Kompaniet, 1932. In good original condition...
Sheepskin, Pine
Svante Skogh cabinet, Sweden, 1960s
By Seffle Möbelfabrik, Svante Skogh
Located in Stockholm, SE
Produced by Seffle Möbelfabrik, Sweden, 1960s.
Glass
Franz Xaver Sproll Hand-Crafted Large Cabinet in Solid Pine
By Franz Xavel Sproll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franz Xaver Sproll, large cabinet or wardrobe, pine, Switzerland, 1960s Swiss furniture maker Franz Xaver Sproll is known for his high-quality, handcrafted solid wood furniture, de...
Pine, Walnut
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.