Known for her role in popularizing Scandinavian modernism within the decorative arts, Swedish textile designer Barbro Lundberg Nilsson’s mastery of color and form and innovative designs for rugs and tapestries rendered her a substantial contributor to her native country’s legacy of mid-century textile design.
Nilsson was born Barbro Lundberg in 1899 in Malmö. At age 14, she studied weaving at Johanna Brunsson’s Vävskola and, later, at Tekniska Skolan (now Konstfack) in Stockholm, where she displayed a prodigious talent. Her career as a textile designer began in the 1920s when she created large-scale tapestry versions of modern Swedish art. In 1928, she married sculptor Robert Nilsson, and they spent the next few years living in Rome.
After their return to Sweden in the early 1930s, Swedish painter and sculptor Sven Erixson commissioned Nilsson to create a large tapestry as part of a proposal to refurbish the Gothenburg Concert Hall. During this period, she was a designer for influential Swedish textile artist Märta Måås-Fjetterström, who ran an atelier called MMF AB in Båstad. Following Måås-Fjetterström’s death in 1942, Nilsson was appointed manager of MMF AB, which she helmed until 1972.
Nilsson remained prolific throughout the mid-20th century. Not only did she manage MMF AB — working with the likes of designers Marianne Richter and Ann-Mari Forsberg — but she was also the director of Konstfack’s textiles department from 1947 to 1957. During this time, she became well-known throughout Sweden and Europe for her innovative use of color, provocative patterns and weaving techniques, such as flossa, haute-lisse, flatweave and knotted high-pile to create her impressive hand-woven Scandinavian rugs and carpets.
Nilsson produced tapestries, rugs and decorative textiles for the Supreme Court of Sweden, the Swedish embassy in Moscow, Russia and Helsingborg’s City Library. She also created decorative textiles for more than 40 Swedish churches, including several church restoration projects helmed by her brother, the famed Swedish architect Erik Lundberg. For her outstanding contributions to culture, Sweden’s royal Litteris et Artibus awarded her a medal in 1948.
Even after she died in 1983, Nilsson’s reputation endures. Her work is held in the collections of the National Museum of Sweden and museums in Gothenburg and Malmö, Copenhagen, Denmark and Trondheim, Norway.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Barbro Nilsson rugs, carpets and wall decorations.
Barbro Nilsson for AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström 'Snäckorna' Carpet
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB 1
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Barbro Nilsson for AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, carpet, model ‘Snäckorna’, wool on linen warp, Sweden, design 1943, production afterwards Exceptional hand-woven carpet designed by th...
Wool, Linen
Märta Måås-fjetterström “Schackrutig Brun” Brown Grid Carpet Signed Ab Mmf Bn
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB 1, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Barbro Nilsson, easily Sweden’s greatest colorist of the Twentieth Century, shows us here that she can do subtlety as well as statement. This example, with a small amount of contrast...
Wool, Linen
Nazmiyal Collection Vintage Barbro Nilson Kilim Rug 1 ft 8 in x 2 ft 4 in
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Vibrant Yellow Vintage Swedish Barbro Nilson Signed Rug, Country of origin: Scandinavia, Circa date: Vintage
Wool
Barbro Nilsson Carpet ‘Strålblomman Röd’ Produced by Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare carpet ‘Strålblomman Röd’ designed by Barbro Nilsson. Produced by Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB in Sweden.
Wool
Pillow, 'Nejlikan Röd', in Wool by Barbro Nilsson, 1950
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB 1
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Pillow, 'Nejlikan Röd', in Wool by Barbro Nilsson, 1950 Additional Information: Material: Wool Style: Mid Century, Scandinavian Pillow Produced by Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB in Swed...
Wool
$28,000Sale Price|20% Off
Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-fjetterström "Solfläckar" Sunspots Tapestry
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This tapestry-woven flat weave may be among the pinnacles of achievement for Barbo Nilsson at Märta Måås-Fjetterström. The colors are just as harmonious in 2022 as they were in 1955...
Wool, Linen
‘Strålblomman Grå’ Carpet by Barbro Nilsson, 1952
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
‘Strålblomman Grå’ Carpet by Barbro Nilsson, 1952 Additional Information: Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB in Sweden Dimensions (W x D): 290 x...
Wool
Rug ‘Sun Spots’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, MMF
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB 1, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Sun Spots’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Sweden, 1966. Wool. Signed. Tapestry technique. Provenance: From a private Swedish collection. The int...
Wool
Barbro Nilsson "Randig Med Tvist" Carpet
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Pawtucket, RI
A graphic and beautifully colored handwoven wool Randig Med Tvist flat-weave carpet by Swedish textile artist Barbro Nilsson for Marta Maas-Fjetterstrom...
Wool
Boucle Wool Ball Pillow
By John Ortiz, The Tailored Home
Located in Greenwich, CT
Firm polyfill stuffed ball pillow covered in warm white boucle. Can be customized in size and fabric. Ask about current availability of shown ball. Measu...
Bouclé
Wool Snowball Cloud Pillow
By JG Switzer
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Our tactile 12" snowball is made from our Shetland cloud heritage breed Shetland, local and imported merino wool and milled here in West Sonoma County at our workshop. The ball is fi...
Wool
$169Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 22 in W 22 in D 5 in
Andes Topaz Pillow Cover By Peruvian Artisans in Andean Highland Wool
By Studio Variously
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Andes is the fruit of an intentional collaboration with an artisan cluster in Peru. Hand knitted only by women, these artisans are trained specially to develop this classic design by Studio Variously. Pure softest wool from Peru ( oeko tex...
Wool
"Firenze" Wool Pillow
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Handwoven and hand tufted dark brown wool decorative pillow with individually channeled and fringe details which add texture and tactile quality embellishment. All pillows are unique...
Wool
Geometric Rya Carpet by Marta Maas-Fjetterström
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A fine geometric pile carpet by Marta Maas-Fjetterström, circa 1960s, "Gul Primavera," signed MMF AB.
Wool
$144,000
H 138 in W 114 in D 0.32 in
Swedish Flat-Weave Wall Hanging by Barbro Nilsson, AB Märta Måås-fjetterström
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in New York, NY
Swedish flat-weave Heavy weight wall hanging. May be suitable to use as carpet. Initialed: AB MMF, BN (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson).
Wool
Mid 20th Century Swedish Pile Carpet by AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
Mid 20th century Swedish pile carpet Sweden ca. 1940 Signed "AB MMF" (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström) Handwoven 8'8" x 5'4" (264 x 163 cm)
Wool
Mid-20th Century Marta Maas-Fjetterström AB Swedish Rug by Barbro Nilsson
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This vintage handwoven Swedish rug has a polychrome field of lapis, ivory, chardonnay, and artichoke graphic geometric star-motif, in a checkered polychrome border with similar whims...
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Pile Carpet by AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
"Il Greco." Sweden ca. 1941 Initialed: AB MMF (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström). 10'11" x 7'11" (333 x 241 cm)
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Pile Rug by Ab Märta Måås-fjetterström
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB 1
Located in New York, NY
Sweden, circa 1945 Initialed 'AB MMF BN' (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson) Handwoven Measures: 7'3" x 5'1" (221 x 155 cm).
Wool
"Lido" Black Wool Pillow by Le Lampade
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Lido" Black Wool Pillow by Le Lampade Handwoven and tufted italian wool pillow with feather and down insert and concealed zipper. All natural mater...
Feathers, Wool
Wool Mexican Indian Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Indian weaving pillow with linen backing.The insert are down & feather fill.
Wool
Rug ‘Salerno Green’ Designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1948
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Salerno Green’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden. 1948. Wool. Signed. Rölakan technique. This rug, designed in 1948, belongs to Barbro Nilsson’s renown...
Wool
Rug ‘Salerno Grey’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden, 1948
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Salerno Grey’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Sweden, 1948. Hand-woven wool. Rölakan technique. Signed. Provenance: From a private Swedish collect...
Wool
Rug 'Spättan' Designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden, 1943
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Spättan’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1943. Wool. Signed. Measures: H: 337 cm / 11' 3/4'' W: 203 cm / 6' 8''.
Wool
Rug ‘Salerno Green’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1954
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Salerno Green’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1954. Wool. Signed. Barbro Nilsson designed her renowned collection of ‘Salerno’ textiles at the request of a very special commission. n 1947, a freight plane carrying twenty-five Swedish Air...
Wool
Sold
W 60.63 in L 86.03 in
Swedish Barbo Nilsson Märta Måås-Fjetterström "Rödlock" Red Onion Pile Carpet
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The daughter of an architect, Barbro Nilsson began weaving and experimenting with synthetic and vegetable color dye at the age of 14. A tenacious spirit with a boat-load of life-long energy, she perfected gobeläng tapestry weaving and brought that revived innovation to Märta Måås-Fjetterström when she was named the first director of its limited company in 1942 at the age of 43, after the death of Märta Måås-Fjetterström. But her truest talent may have been as a colorist, and this pile carpet is an extraordinary example of that: pink, brown, white, and sea foam green without being cloying. It is also a very rare carpet. The dominant color is exactly that of its name, with the important distinction that the red onion be pickled. This carpet looks good in many contexts, and would show very well hung...
Wool
Sold
W 42.13 in L 56.3 in
Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström "Enbär" Juniper Berry Swedish Carpet
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Off of hold after a fresh wash and lash restoration. Please note there is no longer fringe on this rug. Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström "Enbar," or Juniper Berry, sma...
Wool, Linen
Rug “Violetta” Designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sweden, 1961. Hand knotted pile technique. Signed 'AB MMF'. Measures: L: 334 cm / 11' W: 125 cm / 4' 1 1/4''.
Fabric
Rug “Rabatten Gul” Designed by Barbro Nilsson, Sweden, 1944
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Hand knotted pile technique. Signed ‘BN’ L: 310 cm / 10’ 2” W: 204 cm / 6’ 8 1/2".
Fabric
Rug Designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden, 1952
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Falurutan’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden. 1952. Kelim technique. Handwoven wool. Signed "AB MMF BN" Arguably Sweden's top textile artist, Nilsson was hired to ...
Fabric
Sold
W 125.99 in L 98.43 in
Barbro Nilsson Carpet ‘Nejlikan Röd’ Produced by Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB 1, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare carpet ‘Nejlikan röd’ designed by Barbro Nilsson. Produced by Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB in Sweden.
Wool
Vintage Marta Maas Scandinavian Rug by Barbro Nilsson. Size: 5' 1" x 7' 3"
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Vintage Pile Mid Century Scandinavian Marta Maas Rug by Barbro Nilsson, Country of Origin / Rug Type: Scandinavia Rug, Circa Date: Mid 20th Century. Size: 5 ft 1 in x 7 ft ...
Wool
Rug “Seashells” Designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1943
By Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Seashells’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1943. Handwoven wool. Tapestry technique. Dimensions: L: 270 cm/ 8' 10 1/2'' W: 196 cm/ 6' 5'' Barbro Nilsson introduc...
Wool