Renowned weaver and textile artist Judith Johansson is credited with designing more than 400 beautiful Scandinavian rugs over her long career. She and her husband, John Johansson, produced the designs under their company JJ Vävateljén for more than five decades, and today vintage Judith Johansson textiles continue to delight Scandinavian modern furniture lovers all over the world. Her work has had an enduring impact on Swedish rug design.
Johansson was born in 1916 in the Sweden village of Trollhättan, known for its breathtaking scenery. The natural backdrop of her childhood influenced much of Johansson's later design work and is visible in the tree- and leaf-like patterns that characterize her textiles. Her father was a builder, her mother was a seamstress and her grandmother taught her to weave at a young age.
Johansson met her future husband when she was 19 years old. John ran a handicraft shop in the village, where he hired weavers to produce rugs and smaller textiles. In 1938, the young couple moved to the town of Knäred and opened their weaving studio. John managed the administrative side of the business so that his talented wife was free to create rich and interesting textile designs.
Johansson was always looking to improve her craft, and she studied at the School of Textiles in Borås in the late 1940s. She created designs that her studio’s weavers would produce for the Nordiska Kompaniet department stores, and her fabrics were used in works produced by Swedish furniture designer Carl Malmsten. Johansson’s mid-century flatweave wool rugs became widely known for their integration of warm color pairings and intricate abstract forms and geometric patterns.
Johansson was eventually invited to fill the role of artistic leader at the Capellagården craft school, which was founded by Malmsten. She declined, opting instead to continue her work at her studio and focus on designing rugs for churches and other organizations. Johansson was awarded a gold medal from her native country’s Royal Patriotic Society (Kungliga Patriotiska Sällskapet) and today her rugs can be found in churches all over Sweden.
After Johansson died in 1993, the business passed to the couple's daughter.
Find vintage Judith Johansson rugs and carpets on 1stDibs.
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Swedish Flat Woven Rug by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish flat woven rug by Judith Johansson Size: 6'8" × 9'4" (203 × 284 cm) This striking vintage Swedish flat-weave rug, designed by renowned textile artist Judith Johansson...
Wool
Judith Johansson Vintage Swedish Röllakan Rug, Bollalt
By Judith Johansson
Located in Dallas, TX
78492 Vintage Swedish Kilim Rollakan Rug by Judith Johansson, 05'11 x 07'03. With its Scandinavian Modern style, incredible detail and texture, this handwoven wool vintage Swedish ro...
Wool
$7,640Sale Price|20% Off
Judith Johansson Swedish Flat Weave "Björkered" Signed JJ designed Sweden 1962
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson Swedish Flat Weave "Björkered" Signed JJ designed Sweden 1962 This is a classic and very sought after design and designer. Top class in Swedish designer handwoven ...
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Swedish Flat Woven Rug by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Swedish Flat Woven rug by Judith Johansson Size: 4'5" × 6'7" (134 × 200 cm) The vintage Swedish flat-weave rug by Judith Johansson, crafted circa 1952, exemplifies mid-20th-century ...
Wool
A Stained-Glass Reverie: Judith Johansson Swedish Röllakan Masterwork Fönstret
By Judith Johansson
Located in Dallas, TX
78490 Vintage Swedish Kilim Rollakan rug, measures 06'01 x 08'04. A triumph of Scandinavian Modern textile art, this handwoven vintage Swedish rollakan—Fonstret, designed by the reve...
Wool
Judith Johansson "Björkhult" Large Flat-Weave Rug, Sweden, 1960s
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson "Björkhult" Large Flat-Weave Rug, Sweden, 1960s This very large mid-century Swedish flat-weave rug “Björkhult” by Judith Johansson in brown, beige and yellow. Bjö...
Wool
Signed Judith Johansson Sommarflör Vintage Scandinavian Blue Swedish Röllakan
By Judith Johansson
Located in Dallas, TX
78470 Judith Johansson Vintage Swedish Rollakan Rug, 06'03 x 08'03. This handwoven wool vintage Sommarflor rollakan rug, designed by Swedish textile artist Judith Johansson in 1988, ...
Wool
Mid-century Swedish Flatweave Rug Signed by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This mid-century Swedish flatweave rug has a charcoal-brown field with two vertical columns and three horizontal rows of pistachio-green, sky-blue, light blue and purple small spaced...
Wool
Rug ‘Hallandsåsen’ designed by Judith Johansson, Sweden, 1960s
By Judith Johansson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rug ‘Hallandsåsen’ designed by Judith Johansson, Sweden, 1960s. Wool. Signed. L: 300 cm W: 200 cm Length with fringes: 310 cm
Wool
Signed Judith Johansson Vintage Handwoven Midcentury Swedish Flat-Weave
By Judith Johansson
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A Swedish flat-weave wool rug dating back to circa 1952, made by Judith Johansson with woven initials (JJ) at the corner. This vintage handwoven Swedish rug has a shaded blue overall...
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Swedish Rug by Judith Johansson Spice Hall
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish Flat Woven rug by Judith Johansson (Spice hall) Size: 7'5" × 9'9" (226 × 297 cm) The Vintage Swedish Flat-Weave Rug known as "Spise Hall," designed by the esteemed J...
Wool
1950's Judith Johansson Swedish Scandinavian Modern Röllakan, Dvärgbjörk
By Judith Johansson
Located in Dallas, TX
78489 Vintage Swedish Kilim Rollakan Rug by Judith Johansson, 06'04 x 08'07. This captivating vintage Swedish rollakan rug, titled "Dvärgbjörk" (Dwarf Birch), is a stunning creation ...
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Swedish Flat Woven by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish Flat Woven by Judith Johansson Size: 6'0" × 7'10" (182 × 238 cm) The vintage Swedish flat-woven rug "Myosotis" by Judith Johansson (1916–1993) is a masterful example...
Wool
Judith Johansson "Spice Hall" Flat Weave, Signed JJ. Sweden 1960's
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson "Spice Hall" flat weave, Signed JJ. Sweden 1960's Measures - 111.8" × 79.9" Designed in 1961. "Spice Hall" is a hand woven flat-weave rug with a field of shapes in...
Wool, Linen
Swedish Flat-Weave Rug by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Swedish flat-weave rug by Judith Johansson Sweden, circa 1950s. Handwoven Initialled: JJ (Judith Johansson).
Wool
"Spise Hall" 20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
"Spise Hall" 20th century Swedish, flat-weave carpet Initialed "JJ" Judith Johansson. Sweden ca. 1961
Wool
Scandinavian Rollakan Swedish Rug
Located in Ferrara, IT
This is an interesting Scandinavian Rollakan Swedish rug in a captivating combination of beige and pink colors. This exquisite piece stands out f...
Wool
Swedish Geometric Flat-Weave Rug Signed MLB 1950s Scandinavian Artist
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Exceptional Swedish flat-weave Kilim rug. Gorgeous blues and whites in a mesmerizing geometric design. Signed by the weaver "MLB". Measures: 84 x 57".
Wool
Swedish Flat-Weave Rug
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Swedish collection is primarily inspired by vintage Swedish flat-weave rugs, whose geometric designs are relevant as ever in the 21st century. The collection utilizes a number of...
Wool
Vintage Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Flat-weave carpet, Sweden, mid-20th century. Initialed: NEJ.
Wool, Linen
Vintage Hand-Woven Blue Wool Rug by Barbro Nilsson, Sweden
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Drawing inspiration from the ocean, this vintage hand-woven Swedish rug, called the Snäckorna pattern, has strands of sea shells repeatadly strewn over a surface of varying blues. A ...
Wool
Nordic Rug Rollakan Swedish Signed Piece
Located in Ferrara, IT
Invigorate your home space with the Swedish Rollakan Rug! This simple yet eye-catching Scandinavian design features a soft color palette, and is crafted using traditional flat weavin...
Wool
Scandinavian Runner Swedish Rollakan Abstract Design
Located in Ferrara, IT
Introducing the Scandinavian Runner Swedish Rollakan, Red Field Color Minimalist Design Signed FF! This is a timeless piece of furniture that will bri...
Wool
Vintage Swedish Handmade Sunflower Rya Shag Rug
Located in Atlanta, GA
Put some sunshine on the floor! You can't help but smile when you see this bright and cheerful rug, yet the colors are just subdued enough not to jump out at you. Hand-hooked of wool...
Yarn
Swedish Flat-Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Swedish flat-weave rug Sweden circa 1979 Handwoven.
Wool
Vintage Swedish Flat-Weave Rug, 1920
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish flat-weave rug Vintage Scandinavian stripe pattern in ivory with a variety of grey and brown nuances. Sides have a border with a flat pattern in different brown nuan...
Wool
Vintage Swedish Flat-Weave Rug, 1920
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish Flat-Weave Rug Sweden, circa 1920 Handwoven.
Wool
Vintage Swedish Minimalist Flat Woven Rug
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Swedish Minimalist Modern Black and Citrine Railroad Track Striped Flat Woven Rug or Kilim.
Its flat woven pattern is equally...
Fabric
Swedish Mid-century rug "Kärrmark" by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Swedish Mid-Century Rug called Kärrmark by Judith Johansson. Designed in 1955 and featuring a blue background with a kaleidoscope design in green, pink and purple shades. Judith Joha...
Wool
Spise Hall rug by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Swedish Mid-Century Rug called Spise hall by Judith Johansson. Designed in 1961 and featuring a blue background with a kaleidoscope design in green, pink and purple shades. Judith Johansson was a Swedish textile designer active from the 1930s through the 1980s working in her own studio in south of Sweden. The Spise Hall rug...
Wool
Vintage Flatweave Rug by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This unique Scandinavian rug was hand-woven by renowned weaver and textile artist, Judith Johansson in Sweden circa 1955. Features woven signature, ‘JJ’, to edge.
Wool
New Contemporary Scandinavian Swedish Inspired Röllakan
By Judith Johansson
Located in Dallas, TX
30976 New Judith Johansson Scandinavian Swedish Style Kilim Rug, 09'10 x 10'03. This contemporary handwoven wool Swedish-style kilim rug presents a sophisticated reinterpretation of ...
Wool
Signed Judith Johansson Vintage Scandinavian Swedish Röllakan, 05'07 x 07'11
By Judith Johansson
Located in Dallas, TX
78495 Judith Johansson Vintage Swedish Rollakan Rug, 05'07 x 07'11. Judith Johansson (1916-1999) was a prominent Swedish textile artist known for her innovative handwoven rugs and ta...
Wool
Judith Johansson "Spice Hall" Flat Weave, Signed JJ. Sweden 1960's
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson "Spice Hall" flat weave, Signed JJ. Sweden 1960's measures- 108" x 88" Designed in 1961. "Spice Hall" is a hand woven flat-weave rug with a field of shapes in light...
Wool, Linen
Judith Johansson "Björkhult" Large Flat-Weave Rug, Sweden, 1960s
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson "Björkhult" Large Flat-Weave Rug, Sweden, 1960s - 144" x 105.5" This very large mid-century Swedish flat-weave rug “Björkhult” by Judith Johansson in brown, beige a...
Wool
Judith Johansson, "Flower Wreath" Swedish Flat Weave Rug, 1960s
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson, " Flower Wreath" Swedish flat weave rug, 1960s - 115" x 87". Judith Johansson, "BLOMSTERKRANS" or " Flower Wreath" extra large Swedi...
Wool
Judith Johansson "Björkhult", Large Flat-Weave Rug, Sweden, 1960s
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson "Björkhult" flat weave rug Sweden 1964, measures: 365 x 240cm This very large midcentury Swedish flat-weave rug “Björkhult” by Judith Johansson in brown, beige an...
Wool
Judith Johansson Handwoven Flat-Weave Rug Signed JJ, Sweden, 1960s
By Judith Johansson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Judith Johansson handwoven flat-weave rug signed JJ Sweden 1960s 9.2 ft x 6.1 ft. This is a classic and very sought after design and designer. Top class in Swedish designer handwo...
Wool, Linen
Vintage Swedish Flat-Weave by Judith Johanson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish flat-weave by Judith Johanson Size: 6'0" × 11'9" (182 × 358 cm) Popularity of Swedish rugs seems to match that of Classic Persian rugs. Despite their shared sources...
Wool
Tulip, Vintage Rug by Judith Johansson
By Judith Johansson
Located in New York, NY
The Tulip, vintage rug by Judith Johansson Size: 7'4" × 10'5" (223 × 317 cm) Midcentury Swedish flat-woven rug designed by Judith Johansson (1916-1993). Woven at her ateliers at Kn...
Wool