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Scandinavian Modern Clocks

SCANDINAVIAN MODERN STYLE

Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.

ORIGINS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN 

CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries
  • Use of natural materials — native woods such as pine, ash and beech
  • Open, airy spaces
  • Promotion of functionality
  • Emphasis on craftsmanship; rooted in cabinetry profession and traditional construction techniques
  • Minimal ornamentation (little to no embellishment)
  • A neutral or light color palette owing to prominence of light woods

SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The gentle, organic contours that are typical of Scandinavian design appear in the furnishings and decor created by 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.

Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Greta Magnusson Grossman and Bruno Mathsson — creators of the classic Grasshopper lighting series and Berlin daybed, respectively — but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the 1920s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced pieces in the Scandinavian style 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, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. 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 the revolutionary architect and furniture innovator 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, a stylistic maverick and maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Verner Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.

Today, decades after their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight, and interior designers all over the world use their pieces to bring warmth to any given space.

On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern chairs, sofas, rugs and tables — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries. 

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Style: Scandinavian Modern
Danish Midcentury Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen Model Roman
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen model Roma with Quartz clockwork. Arne Jacobsen for Rosendahl. Steel wall clock wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Stainless Steel

Art Deco Longcase Clock in Elm, Denmark, 1930s
Located in Lejre, DK
Floor clock in elm wood, design and made in Denmark 1930s. Great original condition.
Category

1930s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Elm

Scandinavian Modern Teak Longcase Clock
Located in Trenton, NJ
This stylish Scandinavian modern longcase teak bookcase by Westminster Design features natural teak finish with brass finish clock face and three glass shelves within the case. Top l...
Category

Late 20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Teak

Low Tech Life in Progress Clock
Located in VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-SAÔNE, FR
Wall-mounted or stand concrete clock. The concrete clock « LIFE IN PROGRESS » by designer Bertrand Jayr can just stand on shelf or be hanged on any wall. The integrated fixing sy...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Concrete

Mid-Century Modern Wall Clock by Elexacta Schatz, Teak and Brass 1960s Germany
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Stunning wall clock made of teak and brass. One of the most beautiful models I have seen to date. An eye catcher par excellence. Made in Germany. Electric, battery operated clock.
Category

1960s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Scandinavian Modern Teak Wall Clock by Elgin
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass/teak frame, clock face with arabic digits. Made by Elgin in the 1950s.
Category

1950s American Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Scandinavian Wall Clock in Rosewood and Brass, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Coffin shaped wall clock with rosewood veneer to all visible surfaces. The dial is finished with hour markers and sword hands in brass. Anonymous Scandinavian watch makers circa 1960...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, White Plastic Wall Clock, 1960s-1970s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen. White plastic wall clock. Dial with Roman numerals. Clockwork quartz, 1960s-1970s. Measures: Diameter 40 cm. In very good condition.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Plastic

Swedish 1930s Floor Clock from Mjölby Intarsia
Located in Stockholm, SE
Striking 1930s floor clock from Mjölby Intarsia. Sleek, clean design and a beautiful inlayed motif of birds around a fountain. Beams spread out from be...
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, White Plastic Wall Clock, 1960s-1970s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen. White plastic wall clock. Dial with Roman numerals. Clockwork quartz, 1960s-1970s. Size: Diameter 30 cm. In very good condition.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Plastic

Monumental Wall Clock, Anonymous, Denmark, 1947
Located in Stockholm, SE
Monumental wall clock, anonymous, Denmark, 1947. Pewter and brass. Measures: H 78 cm/ 30 3/4" L 130 cm/ 51 1/4".
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass, Pewter

President Wall Clock in Marble Glass by Sidse Werner for Holmegaard, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A very rare wall clock in caramel marble glass. Designed by female designer Sidse Werner in the mid 1970s. It is called President Wall Clock and this one is the largest in the series...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Swedish Modern Ceramic Wall Clock by Ulrica Hydman Vallien 1990s Sweden
Located in Miami, FL
By Ulrica Hydman Vallien, ceramic wall clock retailed in the 90s by Time Design. Designed with Hydman' s iconic triangular face in turquoise surr...
Category

1990s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

Arne Jacobsen and Georg Christensen Banker's Wall Clock
By Georg Christensen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Vienna, AT
Arne Jacobsen and Georg Christensen Banker's clock created for the Danish National Bank in 1971. Steel with Quartz clockwork. Measures: Ø 30 cm.
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Steel

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Midcentury Table Clock by Kienzle
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass construction with a battery movement for one AAA-battery from the 1960s. (pictures shows the original movement before changing to battery one).
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1960s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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  • Midcentury Table Clock by Kienzle
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Magnificent Antique Georgian Mahogany 8 Day Longcase Clock
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This is a magnificent Georgian antique mahogany 8 day longcase clock by Thomas Fowle of East Grinstead with a silvered arched dial engraved face with seconds date strike and silent d...
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German 1960s Junghans pendulum + weights + gong Wall Clock
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Wall clock Design & produced by Junghans in 1960s. Brass metal and Mahogany wood. Mechanical movement and gong is in good working condition. Very nice gong but if you don't like it i...
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Midcentury Wall Clock Junghans, Germany, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type.
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Vintage German Wall Clock in Brass
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A pocket watch shaped quartz (batteri-operated) wall clock featuring solid brass frame, Roman numerals and a sunburst dial in silver enamel. Manufacture...
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1970s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Art Deco Chrome Miniature Clock, 1930s
Located in Devon, England
This clock can't be mistaken for any other era can it? Sweet little desk top clock with the case in Classic Art Deco geometric skyscraper shape and styl...
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Mid-20th Century French Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Chrome

  • Art Deco Chrome Miniature Clock, 1930s
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  • Art Deco Chrome Miniature Clock, 1930s
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H 3 in. W 4.34 in. D 1.19 in.
19th Century French Boulle Longcase Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French boulle inlaid longcase clock, having wonderful scrolling gilded ormolu mounts, an ebonised case wit...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Brass

  • 19th Century French Boulle Longcase Clock
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  • 19th Century French Boulle Longcase Clock
  • 19th Century French Boulle Longcase Clock
H 81.5 in. W 31.5 in. D 14.57 in.
Vintage Wall Clock by Junghans, circa 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
Vintage wall clock by Junghans, circa 1960s Works with batteries (not included) Original condition.
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1960s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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  • Vintage Wall Clock by Junghans, circa 1960s
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H 7.09 in. W 9.45 in. D 1.19 in.
Beautiful Midcentury Danish Teak Wood Pendulum Wall Clock, Great Condition 1960s
Located in Lisse, NL
Stylish and top condition wall clock. Over the years we have sold a few dozen wall clocks and they all had something special about them. For those who have been buying and/or coll...
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Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Brass

Midcentury Italian Postmodern Wall Clock in Mondrian Complementary Colors
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautiful artist made wall clock from the 1990s. Will work well with Sottsass and Memphis Italian post modern design. Signed by artist.
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1990s American Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Mid-Century Krups Wall Clock 1960s-1970s Orange Quarz-Electronic, Germany
By Krups
Located in Andernach, DE
Absolutely fantastic colours & design by the star of German mid- and late century design, KRUPS. Made in the late 60s, early 70s. Here a juicy orange wall clock, with black dial, w...
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Mid-20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Plastic

Machine Age 1930s Art Deco Chrome Clock by Smiths, England
Located in Devon, England
In the rare machine age style this Art Deco beauty is completely authentic, dating to the 1930s and manufactured by the English clock makers 'smiths'. The chrome is in very good cond...
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Mid-20th Century English Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Previously Available Items
Vintage Pewter and Glass Hand Bell by Gunnar Havstad, Norway 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare and classic Norwegian pewter hand bell with a transparent green glass ball handle on the top surrounded by pewter strings. Made by Gunnar Havstad ...
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1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Pewter

Danish Long Case Wall Clock
Located in London, GB
A large Danish long case chiming wall clock. Produced in Denmark circa 1960. A solid and bold design in teak with brass elements. A statement decorati...
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Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

  • Danish Long Case Wall Clock
  • Danish Long Case Wall Clock
  • Danish Long Case Wall Clock
  • Danish Long Case Wall Clock
H 5.12 in. W 14.57 in. L 5.12 in.
President Wall Clock in Marble Glass by Sidse Werner for Holmegaard, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A very rare wall clock in caramel marble glass. Designed by female designer Sidse Werner in the mid 1970s. It is called President Wall Clock and this one is the largest in the series...
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1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Brass

Henning Koppel Brass Wall Clock by Georg Jensen
Located in Valby, 84
Rare Henning Koppel brass wall clock by Georg Jensen manufactured in the 1950’s by danish manufacturer Georg Jensen. This clock is designed by danish designer Henning Koppel who is ...
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1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Brass

Vintage Perpetual Eternity Calendar by Mette Kiellerup for Royal Copenhagen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An amazing Scandinavian Modern perpetual desk calendar designed by Mette Kiellerup for Royal Copenhagen with three adjustable metal wheels to display t...
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Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Stainless Steel

Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Clock
Located in London, GB
A unique Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern chiming clock. Stunning modernist design of the 1960’s. Standing at a height of 175cm. Fully working a...
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Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Brass

  • Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Clock
  • Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Clock
  • Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Clock
  • Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Clock
H 68.9 in. W 13 in. D 11.03 in.
Scandinavian Modern Teak Longcase Clock
By Westminster Clocks
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A very unusual item, a Scandinavian Modern long case clock, made from teak and glass, the cabinet at the top below the dial, has a mirror back and is illuminated. The other two compa...
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20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Glass, Teak

  • Scandinavian Modern Teak Longcase Clock
  • Scandinavian Modern Teak Longcase Clock
  • Scandinavian Modern Teak Longcase Clock
  • Scandinavian Modern Teak Longcase Clock
H 70.87 in. W 16.93 in. D 9.06 in.
Extra Large Bankers Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen
Located in Dronten, NL
Wall clock designed by Arne Jacobsen commissioned by The National Bank of Denmark in Copenhagen. This is a unique large version, manufactured by Gefa, Denmark in 1971. Most likely ...
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1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Aluminum

  • Extra Large Bankers Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen
  • Extra Large Bankers Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen
  • Extra Large Bankers Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen
  • Extra Large Bankers Wall Clock by Arne Jacobsen
Free Shipping
H 2.37 in. Dm 20.48 in.
Erik Chambert Swedish Art Deco Floor Clock in Rosewood and Decorative Marquetry
Located in New York, NY
Erik Chambert, Swedish Art Deco floor clock in rosewood and decorative marquetry depicting stylized foliage. The clock’s face is polished pewter with engraved imagery all of which re...
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Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Pewter

Large Kienzle Style Wall Clock
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A fabulous larger than usual version of the kienzle wall clock, the main case is made from solid hardwood the ring is solid aluminum with brass inse...
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Mid-20th Century English Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Aluminum, Brass

  • Large Kienzle Style Wall Clock
  • Large Kienzle Style Wall Clock
  • Large Kienzle Style Wall Clock
  • Large Kienzle Style Wall Clock
H 24.02 in. Dm 20.87 in.
Vintage Stoneware Mahogany Wall Clock
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern ceramic wall clock, circa 1960s. This decorative piece is trimmed in mahogany and keeps time with one AA battery. Offered by Mid Century Maddist
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1960s Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

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Ceramic, Mahogany

Arne Jacobsen and Georg Christensen Banker's Wall Clock Biggest Edition
By Arne Jacobsen, Georg Christensen
Located in Vienna, AT
Arne Jacobsen and Georg Christensen Banker's clock created for the Danish National Bank in 1971. Steel with Quartz clockwork. Measures: Ø 48 cm.
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1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Clocks

Materials

Steel

Scandinavian Modern clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Scandinavian Modern clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decor, storage furniture and cabinets, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Scandinavian Modern clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Denmark pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Arne Jacobsen, Elgin Clocks, Georg Christensen, and Gunnar Havstad. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at £135 and tops out at £13,170 while the average work can sell for £630.

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