Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of vintage Scandinavian modern furniture appear in the work of 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.
Characterized by bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries, Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with this style was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Bruno Mathsson, creator of the classic Grasshopper chair and Berlin daybed, but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the ’20s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced Scandinavian modern pieces 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. 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 he 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, maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Vernor Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern designs — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries. Even more than 50 years on from their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight.
1930s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Beech
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary British Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech, Oak, Walnut, Sheepskin, Wool, Bouclé
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Cotton, Teak
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Teak
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Wood
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Oak, Sheepskin
1960s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wood
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Teak
1970s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Walnut
1930s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Beech
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech, Leather
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Mohair, Velvet, Beech
1940s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Plywood
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Oak
1970s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Plywood
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Beech
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Beech
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Aluminum
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Oak
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Wood
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Beech
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel, Chrome
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Teak
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Rosewood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Lambskin, Sheepskin, Oak
1960s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Cane, Teak
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Wood
1960s Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood, Leather
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Pine
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Bamboo
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Velvet
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Oak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Wood, Wool
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
1980s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Walnut, Fabric
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Oak
1950s Italian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Teak
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Canvas, Birch
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Oak, Leather
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