Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Swedish designer-siblings Uno Kristiansson and Östen Kristiansson are best known to collectors of vintage furniture for their imaginative lighting and mirrors. As partners, Uno & Östen Kristiansson united high-quality, practical Scandinavian modern design with fresh innovation.
Uno and Östen Kristiansson were born in southern Sweden. Their father was a furniture maker who owned a workshop — Vittsjo — that was named for the village in which it was located. In 1950, Uno opened his workshop in the same village. He called his company Luxus and brought his younger brother Östen on board as a designer and builder.
Like lots of designers of the era, the Kristianssons favored traditional teak wood but also employed more forward-looking materials such as glass, acrylic, leather and plastic. While their work spoke to the organic forms and craftsmanship that is typical of many Scandinavian modern designers, the brothers created minimalist oak mirrors and shapely pine wall lights — which often featured an integration of rattan — that set them apart from other artisans in their field.
Around 1966, Östen took over their father’s workshop and renamed it Östen Kristiansson AB. He eventually returned the company’s name to Vittsjo.
After 1970, Uno and Östen Kristiansson focused primarily on lamps and mirrors. They designed most of these works in acrylic, and wood became more of a secondary material in their composition. Collectors and interior designers continue to prize the many inventive furnishings they produced.
Find vintage Östen Kristiansson table lamps, chandeliers and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Aluminum
Late 19th Century Swedish Empire Revival Antique Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Bronze
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Mahogany
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Wood
1950s French Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Metal
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Macassar, Oak
1930s American Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Mahogany, Satinwood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Wood, Rosewood
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Steel
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Pine
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Steel
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Östen Kristiansson Wall Decorations
Pine
