Westnofa Furniture Seating
While Norway comprises something of an unsung chapter in the history of Scandinavian modernism, an export company called Westnofa shouldn’t be overlooked. It represented a collective of the country’s leading manufacturers to promote and export their furniture worldwide. Westnofa was key to the success of Norway’s mid-century designers and furniture brands, and fostered the growth of entities that might otherwise be unknown to today’s design aficionados.
Norway’s furniture factories were largely destroyed during World War II, and while the country’s sophisticated works — designed in teak, pine and other prized woods — had earned a place in Scandinavian modernism, its output was overshadowed by big names such as Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen who’d earned icon status in Finland and Denmark, respectively. Westnofa, a name derived from “West Norway Factories,” took shape in the late 1950s in order to circumvent the limitations that the country’s furniture industry had faced in the areas of marketing and production. Some of the manufacturers connected to Westnofa were P.I. Langlo Møbelfabrikk, Ekornes, Stokke and Vestlandske.
Westnofa took great pains to devise the most cost-effective and efficient method of packing and shipping worldwide. Flat-pack assembly for lightweight shipping was the result. In neighboring Sweden during the late 1940s, DUX president and furniture designer Folke Ohlsson put the same idea into practice. Flat-pack assembly saved space in warehouses and money on transportation. It’s a breakthrough that survives today — namely at popular Swedish brand IKEA.
While it’s unclear if Westnofa also produced furniture in addition to exporting the goods of a group of manufacturers, some of the more well-known designers that are today mentioned alongside the company include Ingmar Relling, Torstein Nilsen and Jens Nielsen. Relling is best known for seating and his most famous piece associated with Westnofa is his high-backed Siesta chair, which features supple leather cushions atop a bentwood frame. Torstein Nilsen designed an elegant glass-topped bentwood dining table that is also commonly linked with Westnofa. Jens Nielsen created minimalist, sculptural lounge chairs in birch and plywood that are connected with the Westnofa name.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Westnofa seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Upholstery, Teak
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Canvas, Teak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Canvas, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Beech
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Teak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Teak
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Bentwood
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Canvas, Plywood, Lacquer
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Wool, Teak
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Canvas, Bentwood
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Wool, Bentwood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Suede, Beech
20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Teak
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Beech
1970s Norwegian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Bentwood
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Steel
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Rosewood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Rosewood
Late 20th Century Danish Post-Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Upholstery, Wood
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Wood
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Hardwood, Fabric, Leather, Canvas
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Rosewood
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Upholstery, Wood
1960s French Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Beech
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Beech
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Bentwood, Upholstery
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Wood
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Teak
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Bentwood, Leather
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Birch, Plywood
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Beech
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Post-Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Birch
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Wool, Oak
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Steel, Chrome
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Wood
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Beech, Plywood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Upholstery, Rosewood
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Wood
1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Wood, Leather
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Bentwood, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Bentwood
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Canvas, Bentwood
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Bentwood, Fabric, Leather
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Upholstery, Teak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Westnofa Furniture Seating
Upholstery, Teak
1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Rosewood
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Oak
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Suede, Oak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Fabric, Wood
1980s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Wood
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Westnofa Furniture Seating
Leather, Wood
Westnofa Furniture seating for sale on 1stDibs
Creators Similar to Westnofa Furniture
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, the Westnofa furniture company is out of business. Westnofa was a Norwegian furniture company that was best known for the Siesta chair by Ingmar Relling. This chair won awards for its design and became highly desirable in the 60s and 70s, prompting the growth of more Westnofa designs. Unfortunately, the brand's popularity did not last. Shop a collection of vintage Westnofa furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.