Scandinavian Modern Furniture
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.
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Aluminum
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Teak
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal, Brass
1930s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Bronze
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Fabric, Ash, Plywood
2010s Canadian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Oak
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Bouclé, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary British Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Fabric, Beech, Oak, Walnut
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Fabric, Teak
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Leather, Wood
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Stoneware
1940s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Birch, Bouclé
1960s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary British Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Wool, Bouclé, Beech, Oak, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary British Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Wool, Bouclé, Beech, Oak, Walnut
1970s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s Canadian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Oak
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Brass
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Pine
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s Canadian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Cherry, Maple, Oak
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Leather, Suede, Bentwood
2010s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Oak
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Papercord, Oak
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Pine
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Birch
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Wool, Cane, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary British Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Beech, Oak, Walnut, Sheepskin, Wool, Bouclé
2010s Canadian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Faux Leather, Wood
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Wool, Acrylic
1970s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Stoneware
1960s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Wood, Birch
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Sheepskin, Wood
20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal, Chrome
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Oak, Sheepskin
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Leather, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Aluminum
1970s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Brass
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Plastic, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Pine
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1970s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Fabric, Wood
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Brass
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Metal
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Maple, Walnut, Burl
2010s Canadian Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Organic Material, Wood, Hardwood, Bentwood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Steel
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture
Leather, Teak
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