Hans Wegner JH-512 Oak Folding Chair, c. 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Literature: 'Danimarca', Domus, no. 259, June 1951, p. 29 Svend Erik Møller and Viggo Sten Møller, Dansk Møbelkunst, Københavns snedkerlaugs møbeludstilling 1927-1951, Copenhagen, 1...
Rattan, Oak
Hans Wegner Pair of JH-512 Oak Folding Chairs, 1949
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Measures: H: 76cm / W: 63cm / D: 71cm Literature: 'Danimarca', Domus, no. 259, June 1951, p. 29 Svend Erik Møller and Viggo Sten Møller, Dansk Møbelkunst, Københavns snedkerlaugs m...
Rattan, Oak
Danish Modern Ladder-Back Armchairs by Viggo Sten Møller
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Exquisitely elegant set of six armchairs designed by Viggo Sten Møller. Beech frames with linen strapping.
Beech, Linen
Danish Modern Transitional Viggo Sten Møller Dining Chairs
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Built of European beechwood; these rare Viggo Sten Møller Scandinavian modern dining chairs feature a woven graphic seat made out of a black and cream hemp webbing.
Beech
Hans Wegner JH-512 Oak Folding Chair, 1949
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Literature: 'Danimarca', Domus, no. 259, June 1951, p. 29 Svend Erik Møller and Viggo Sten Møller, Dansk Møbelkunst, Københavns snedkerlaugs møbeludstilling 1927-1951, Copenhagen...
Rattan, Oak
Hans Wegner Pair of JH-512 Oak Folding Chairs, 1949
By Hans J. Wegner, Johannes Hansen
Located in London, England
Measures: H: 76cm / W: 63cm / D: 71cm Literature: 'Danimarca', Domus, no. 259, June 1951, p. 29 Svend Erik Møller and Viggo Sten Møller, Dansk Møbelkunst, Københavns snedkerla...
Rattan, Oak
Sold
W 42.13 in L 56.3 in
Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström "Enbär" Juniper Berry Swedish Carpet
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Literature: Compare with Lundgren, Tyra: Märta Måås-Fjetterström och väv-verkstaden i Båstad, Stockholm 1968, plate 50, colour plate opposite page 65; Möller, Viggo Sten: En bok om B...
Wool, Linen
Barbro Nilsson Carpet for Marta Maas-Fjetterstrom, Sweden, 1952
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen, DK
"Falurutan" was first woven in red to the dining room at the residence in Falun, Sweden. Litterature: Möller, Viggo Sten: En bok om Barbro Nilsson, Stockholm/Barcelona 1977, colo...
Sold
H 118.9 in W 79.14 in L 118.9 in
Barbro Nilsson Large Falurutan Carpet for Marta Maas-Fjetterstrom, Sweden, 1952
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Literature: Compare with Möller, Viggo Sten: En bok om Barbro Nilsson, Stockholm or Barcelona 1977, color plate page 68; Liljevalchs konsthalls katalog: Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Mär...
Kay Fisker Klismos Chair with Horsehair Seat, Denmark, 1920s
By Kay Fisker
Located in Maastricht, NL
This chair was previously owned by architect Viggo Sten Møller, a contemporary of Fisker.
Beech
$4,360 / item
H 28.35 in W 40.16 in D 34.65 in
"Pietra" Curved Armchair with Leather Arms Upholstered in Bouclé Fabric
By Studio Marta Manente
Located in Centro, RS
Pietra from Italian: Stone The designer Marta Manente is of Italian descent, her great-grandparents migrated from Italy over 100 years ago and lived in the region of Bento Gonçalves ...
Bouclé
$20,016 / item
H 27.56 in W 94.49 in D 39.38 in
Giovannetti, 1970s Anfibio Foldable Sofa in Cream Colored Fabric Project, Becchi
By Alessandro Becchi
Located in Casalguidi, IT
The bed-sofa, designed by Alessandro Becchi together with the Giovannetti staff has recently celebrated its 50 years. Its history is full of important events and participations. A p...
Wool, Cotton
LU Swing Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful brass LU swing sconce made by Lumfardo Luminaires in patinated brass. Wired with an E26 medium based socket. Light bulb provided as well as all mounting hardware. Priced in...
Brass
$78,400 / set
H 36.62 in W 40.95 in D 26.97 in
Pair of Brasiliana Armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, 1965, Brazilian Midcentury
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Brasiliana is a series composed of a sofa and armchair designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) in 1965 and produced by his company, L'atelier. These rare pieces have molde...
Rosewood, Fabric
$3,990 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
$805Sale Price / item|47% Off
H 33.47 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Dining Chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, Model Razoblade, Denmark, Oak
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of striking dining chairs by Henning Kjærnulf, made of oak and honey coloured lambskin. Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Modernism. M...
Oak
$35,000
H 38.25 in W 33.25 in D 38.5 in
Vladimir Kagan, Rare Lounge Chair, Walnut, White Fabric, Kagan Designs C. 1950
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in High Point, NC
A rare lounge lounge chair designed by Vladimir Kagan for his own firm Vladimir Kagans Design. Designed c. 1950s, this example produced c. 1970. Features finely carved walnut, reuph...
Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut
$2,300 / item
H 20.5 in W 14 in D 67 in
HIFI Vinyl LP Storage Bench / Record Shelf Mid-Century Modern Walnut Pete Deeble
By Pete Deeble
Located in Long Beach, CA
This bench is the ideal solution to having records sitting all over your house and no place to sit. This is an original design, but with a strong influence of Mid Century Danish Mode...
Walnut
Kai Kristiansen Walnut and Mohair Mohair Velvet Bench
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
A beuatiful bench designed by Danish master Kai Kristiansen in the 1950s and now produced under license by Dagmar in Denmark. This hand-made to order bench has a solid walnut frame ...
Mohair, Oak, Walnut
$15,395
H 27.56 in W 94.49 in D 39.38 in
Gianfranco Frattini Brown Velvet Sesann Three-Seater Sofa for Cassina, 1972
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Sesann three-seater sofa, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1970 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. It features brown alpaca velvet upholstery and a chrome tubular ca...
Chrome
$5,430 / item
H 42.01 in W 25.99 in D 1.19 in
Mid century style Ceiling Suspended Mirror with Bronze Patina Frame, Vintage N.4
By Alguacil & Perkoff Ltd.
Located in London, London
Mid-century style Vintage N.4 ceiling suspended mirror with a high quality pure brass full frame with a bronze patina finish. This piece is part of our original and fully customisabl...
Brass, Bronze
Mae Console Table by Crump and Kwash
By Crump and Kwash
Located in Baltimore City, MD
Mae console table by Crump and Kwash Hand turned, solid wood legs and cross members / Solid wood top / Veg tan woven leather shelf / Customizations available. Options Wood - Whit...
Leather, Walnut, Oak, Maple
$16,400
H 78.75 in W 70.87 in D 27.56 in
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Bedroom Divider Wardrobe Walnut
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, bedroom divider or wardrobe unit, walnut, glass Italy, 1980s This exceptional piece by Italian sculptor and designer Giuseppe Rivadossi is...
Glass, Walnut
Donbar Faceted Fireplace in Patinated Iron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Donbar fireplace, iron, Belgium, 1970s A 1970s fireplace by Donbar made in Belgium in the 1970s. Crafted from patinated black iron, this fireplace embraces a mesmerizing interplay o...
Iron
$5,478 / set
H 28.35 in W 35.44 in D 25.6 in
An Original Dondolo Rocking Chair by Luigi Crassevig, Italy, 1970s
By Luigi Crassevig
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original Dondolo rocking chair by Luigi Crassevig, Italy, 1970s. Bentwood and original cane. We only have a single chair available. The price is for the single chair. Fast ...
Cane, Wood
Hans Wegner Danish Oak 1950s Cigar Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, England
Hans Wegner Cigar Chair Model GE-240 Produced by Getama in Denmark, c1950s. The Cigar chair remains one of Wegner's most effective, contemporary and popular designs. This exam...
Oak, Bouclé
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.
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.