Scandinavian Painted Lights
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and...
Steel
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Iron
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Porcelain, Glass
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Porcelain, Glass
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Porcelain, Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Porcelain, Glass
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Porcelain, Glass
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Iron
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Brass
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and...
Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and...
Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Brass, Metal
- 1
Scandinavian Painted Lights For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Scandinavian Painted Lights?
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 lighting for You
The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.
Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.
Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.
Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.
As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.
There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.
With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.
The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Empire of Light is a series of paintings by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte. Although he didn’t plan them as a formal series, Magritte explored this theme in more than 20 paintings from the 1940s to the 1960s. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of expertly-vetted René Magritte pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024Dan Flavin's paintings with light were called “icons,” a term that the American artist coined. To produce these works, Flavin created monochrome canvases and then lit them with electric lights. In 1963, he shifted to creating sculptures out of the light fixtures themselves. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Dan Flavin art.