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
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.
Carmine Clock Made In Light Mahogany From 1920s
Located in Lejre, DK
This antique carmine-colored clock, made from light mahogany with intarsia, dates back to the 1920s and is a beautiful example of early 20th-century craftsmanship. The clock is craft...
Mahogany
Birger Kaipiainen Decorative Ceramic Table Clock, Flower and Beeds, Arabia 1970s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Birger Kaipiainen had a thing for clock´s. Frequently in his decorative dishes he had clock`s that were always pointing to 12:15. Now here is the whole thing. In perfect working orde...
Ceramic
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Scandinavian Design Octagonal Clock by Arne Bjerke
Located in Skien, NO
Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Table Clock by Arne Bjerke Circa 1970s-1980s This elegant table clock, designed and handcrafted by Norwegian designer Arne Bjerke, features...
Oak
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, Red, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, Green, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'City Hall' Table Clock, Black, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, Blue, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
Arne Jacobsen’s petrol-blue Station table clock is ideal as an alarm clock with useful detailing in a calm bedroom, as a colourful element in the bathroom or as a stylish detail in a...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'LK' Table Clock, White, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Roman' Table Clock, White, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Bankers' Table Clock, White, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, Grey, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The elegant Station Table Clock by Arne Jacobsen Clocks was originally designed back in 1939, when Arne Jacobsen designed a home for electricity company CEO Lauritz Knudsen. The attr...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, White, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'City Hall' Table Clock, Sand, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
Arne Jacobsen's City Hall table clock was originally designed for Rødovre Town Hall in 1956. What makes the City Hall clock so popular is its universal expression, which is why it wa...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Bankers' Table Clock, Grey, Ø 4.3 in
Located in New York, NY
Arne Jacobsen was known as an architect who made total designs when de designed buildings. In 1971, Arne Jacobsen drew the Nation bank in Copenhagen. For the beautiful marble clad bu...
Plastic
Vintage Scandinavian Design Teak & Hardwood Segmented Bowl, ca. 1970s
Located in Skien, NO
This stunning Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern segmented bowl is expertly crafted from a combination of teak and possibly walnut, featuring a striking cross and geometric pattern. Des...
Hardwood, Teak, Walnut
Unavailable|$637
H 8.67 in W 9.06 in D 4.34 in
Original Art Deco Table Clock, Walnut, Brass, Glass, Repolished, Czech, 1920s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
These table clocks represent the refined taste and craftsmanship of Czechoslovakia during the 1920s. The design follows the popular Art Deco style. This movement focused on geometric...
Brass
Schauer Industrial or Station Clock, Vienna, 1964
By Schauer
Located in Vienna, AT
Four pieces available The clock is in perfect condition, no major scratches, no glass scratched. Flat glass cover, black painted figures an ivory white embossed dish, painted blac...
Steel
Unavailable|$695
H 10.24 in W 15.75 in D 6.3 in
Original Art Deco Table Clock, Walnut, Chrome, Glass, Repolished, Czech, 1920s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This refined table clock is an excellent example of Czechoslovak Art Deco from the 1920s. It represents an era when geometric purity and luxury materials became the standard for mode...
Chrome
Large Siemens Factory, Station or Workshop Wall Clock
By Siemens
Located in Vienna, AT
Huge 43cm steel painted clock face made in Germany in the 1950s. Formerly a slave clock, it is now fitted with a modern quartz movement with a batt...
Steel
Westminster Chiming Grandmother Clock in a Mahogany Case
Located in Montreal, QC
This grandmother clock has a spring-driven, three train, chiming movement, facilitating the Westminster chime on a nest of gong rods. The case is mad...
Brass
Contemporary Wall Clock 'Moment' in Black Lava Stone
By Buzao, Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
Wall clock 'Moment' by Buzao x Bentu design. Black lava stone Measure: Diameter 24cm.
Lava
Aluminum Wall Clock from the 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
Aluminum frame with battery movement. Used but still in a good condition, made in Germany in the 1970s.
Aluminum
Large Bakelite Industrial, Train Station Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
Bakelite industrial wall clock from about 1940's, 1950's. Diameter 49 cm and a depth of 10,5 cm. The clock is in perfect condition, no major scr...
Bakelite, Glass
Art Deco table clock around 1920s
Located in Wien, Au
Art Deco table clock around 1920s Original condition
Metal, Brass
$9,600
H 2.37 in W 18.12 in D 16.93 in
Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia. Large square ceramic dish with floral decoration.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Birger Kaipiainen (1915–1988) for Arabia. Large square ceramic dish with floral decoration. Decorated with characteristic, stylised flowers in blue, turquoise, and black on a white ...
Ceramic
$1,430Sale Price|24% Off
H 4.5 in W 6.5 in D 2.5 in
Vintage Tiffany and Co. Square Brass Desk Clock, 1970s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Handsome 8 day, Swiss jeweled Tiffany and Co. square desk clock in patinated brass with stepped dial frame and two-tiered base. Face pivots between f...
Brass
Junghans Table-Clock designed by Heinrich Moller 1930
Located in Vienna, AT
Wonderful Junghans table clock designed by Heinrich Moller, 1930. Crafted in solid brass with a beautifully aged patina, this piece showcases the refined geometric clarity characteri...
Brass
Tapio Wirkkala / HOURGLASS L / Vakumotuote Oy
Located in Shibuya-Ku, JP
This acrylic cube-shaped hourglass was created in 1980 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Mannerheim Child Welfare Association. In Finnish, ‘Hetkinen Lapselle’ means ‘Time fo...
Acrylic
Orrefors Sweden Orion Crystal Desk Clock Paperweight 1970s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orrefors Sweden Crystal Orion Desk Clock by Lars Hellsten circa 1970s. The Swedish crystal desk clock designed by sculptor Lars Hellsten for Orrefors, showcases a flared form with a ...
Crystal
Weather station barometer, thermometer, hygrometer by Henning Koppel
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Weather station barometer, thermometer, hygrometer by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen. Edition from the 70's. Perfect functional condition.
Steel