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.
Set of Two Stig Lindberg Dinner Plates, Berså Pattern, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
2 dinner plates in porcelain in the very famous pattern Berså designed by Stig Lindberg at Gustavsberg. They are 24.5 cm in diameter. They are in very good condition except from some...
Porcelain
Hertha Bengtson for Rörstrand, Seven Koka Dinner Plates
Located in København, Copenhagen
Hertha Bengtson (1917-1993) for Rörstrand. 15 Koka plates in glazed stoneware. 1960s. Diameter: 17 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped. For almost half a century, Hertha Bengtson...
Stoneware
Carl Harry Stålhane '1920-1990' for Rörstrand. Four Deep Solöga Plates
Located in København, Copenhagen
Carl Harry Stålhane (1920-1990) for Rörstrand. Four deep Solöga plates in hand-painted and glazed stoneware. 1960s / 70s. Measures: 20.5 x 4.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stam...
Stoneware
Carl Harry Stålhane '1920-1990' for Rörstrand, Seven Solöga Dinner Plates
Located in København, Copenhagen
Carl Harry Stålhane (1920-1990) for Rörstrand. Seven Solöga dinner plates in hand-painted and glazed stoneware. 1960s / 70s. Diameter: 24 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Stoneware
Vintage Set of 6 Furnivals England Salad Plates Red Denmark Pattern
By Furnivals
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Set of vintage 6 salad or dessert plates is decorated in the Denmark pattern in the unusual red or pink colorway. Usually the Denmark pattern is synonymous with blue and white colors...
Ceramic, Pottery
Arne Griegst Konkylie Pink Plate no 14173, for Royal Copenhagen, 1974-1978
By Arje Griegst, Royal Copenhagen
Located in Stockholm, SE
This piece was designed by the esteemed Danish jeweler and goldsmith Arje Griegst in 1978 and is no longer in production. Arje Griegst is globally celebrated for his jewelry, sculptu...
Porcelain
Firma Svenskt Tenn Set of Six Pewter Charger Plates, Sweden, 1968
By Estrid Ericson, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Odense, DK
Wonderful set of six original charger plates manufactured at Firma Svenskt Tenn in the 1968. Made of beautifully patinated pewter. Great quality. All signed and marked with the "Ängl...
Pewter
Four Hand-Painted Wall Plates by Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist for Arabia Atelier
By Arabia of Finland, Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare set of four hand-painted wall plates designed by Gunvor Olin-Grönqvist for Arabia Atelier, Finland. Each plate is individually painted and signed, reflecting the expressive, p...
Faience
Large Decorative Scandinavian Wood Plate Old Patina Circa 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Large Decorative wood Plate in a brown color. Old and beautiful Patina. Circa 1960
Wood
$1,350Sale Price / set|25% Off
1970s Textured Glass Pertti Santalahti Humppila Kivi Plates, Set of 12
By Humppila, Pertti Santalahti
Located in Miami, FL
1970s textured glass Pertti Santalahti Humppila Kivi Plates, Set of 12 Offered for sale is a set of twelve (12) ice-like textured glass "Kivi" pattern dinner plates created by Fin...
Blown Glass
Sigvard Bernadotte for Christineholm, Twelve Large Dinner Plates in Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Sigvard Bernadotte for Christineholm. Twelve large dinner plates in porcelain with silver border. 1980s. Diameter: 30.5 cm. In excellent condit...
Porcelain
Royal Copenhagen Blue Fan, four dinner plates. 1960s/70s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen Blue Fan, four dinner plates. Model number: 11519 Dating: 1960s/1970s. Marked. In excellent condition. First factory quality. Dimensions: Diameter 25.5 cm.
Porcelain
Set of Ten Danish Modern Teak Dinner Plate
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful set of ten teak plates, manufactured in Denmark during the 1970s. These plates are intended to be used as underplates for porcelain dinner plates – an elegant way to prot...
Teak
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Five "Bodega" dinner plates in stoneware.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. Set of five "Bodega" dinner plates in stoneware. Stylish Scandinavian design. From the 1970s. Marked. First factory quality. Perfect condition. Dimens...
Stoneware
Grethe Meyer, Royal Copenhagen. Set of four Blue Line dinner plates in faience
Located in København, Copenhagen
Grethe Meyer for Royal Copenhagen, set of four Blue Line dinner plates. Elegant set of four dinner plates in faience with the characteristic hand-painted blue rim, model from the Bl...
Faience
Set of four Arabia "Kosmos" dinner plates in stoneware. 1970s
Located in København, Copenhagen
A set of four Arabia "Kosmos" dinner plates in stoneware. Designed by Gunvor Olin-Grønquist. Retro design from the 1970s. In perfect condition. First factory quality. One plate is un...
Stoneware
Jens H. Quistgaard, Bing & Grondahl. White "Cordial Palet" Dinner Plate, 14 Pcs
Located in København, Copenhagen
Jens H. Quistgaard for Bing & Grondahl. White "Cordial Palet" dinner plate in glazed stoneware, 1960s. 14 pieces in stock. Stamped. In very good condit...
Stoneware
Emile Henry, France, Eight Lunch Plates in Glazed Stoneware, Mid-20th C
Located in København, Copenhagen
Swedish art glass. Twelve deep plates in smoky mouth-blown art glass. 1960/70s. Measures: 23.5 x 3.5 cm. In excellent condition.
Art Glass
Grethe Meyer, Royal Copenhagen. Set of six Blue Line dinner plates in faience.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Grethe Meyer for Royal Copenhagen, set of six Blue Line dinner plates. Elegant set of six dinner plates in faience with the characteristic hand-painted blue rim, model from the Blue...
Faience
Ulla Procopé for Arabia. Four ceramic dinner plates. "Ruska” series. 1960s/70s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Arabia Finland Plates “Ruska”, 1960/70s. Four dinner plates in dark brown stoneware from Arabia’s iconic “Ruska” series, known for its durable chamotte body and the deep matte iron-b...
Stoneware
Grethe Meyer, Royal Copenhagen. Set of six Blue Line dinner plates in faience.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Grethe Meyer for Royal Copenhagen, set of six Blue Line dinner plates. Elegant set of six dinner plates in faience with the characteristic hand-painted blue rim, model from the Blue...
Faience
Ulla Procopé for Arabia. Four ceramic dinner plates. "Ruska” series. 1960s/70s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Arabia Finland Plates “Ruska”, 1960/70s. Four dinner plates in dark brown stoneware from Arabia’s iconic “Ruska” series, known for its durable chamotte body and the deep matte iron-b...
Stoneware
$144 / set
Rörstrand, Glunt, Soup Plate, 1960s
By Rörstrand
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: The two soup plates on offer here are manufactured by the Swedish firm Rörstrand, the designer of the form / pattern was Christina Cam...
Earthenware, Ceramic
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Five Spisa-Legum Dinner Plates in Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. Five Spisa-Legum dinner plates in glazed porcelain. 1960s. Measure: Diameter: 25 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
Raija Uosikkinen for Arabia, 10 Rare Pitsi Dinner Plates with Floral Decoration
Located in København, Copenhagen
Raija Uosikkinen for Arabia. 10 rare Pitsi dinner plates with floral decoration. Dated 1967-1974. Diameter: 26 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
Set of Ten Danish Modern Teak Dinner Plates by Langva
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful and complete set of ten teak plates manufactured in the 1960s by Langva of Denmark. Slight variations in tone and wood grain along with surface scuffs to some plates, as sh...
Teak
Enameled Steel Bowl for Leif Wessmann Associates
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A graphic and elegant shallow enamel over polished stainless steel bowl. Originally distributed by Knoll International.
Steel
Enameled Steel Bowl for Leif Wessmann Associates
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A graphic and elegant shallow enamel over polished stainless steel bowl. Originally distributed by Knoll International.
Steel
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, four "Bodega" dinner plates in stoneware.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, four "Bodega" dinner plates in stoneware. Stylish Scandinavian design. From the 1970s. Marked. First factory quality. In perfect condition. Dimensions...
Stoneware
Raija Uosikkinen for Arabia, 10 Rare Pitsi Deep Plates with Floral Decoration
Located in København, Copenhagen
Raija Uosikkinen for Arabia. 10 Rare Pitsi deep plates with floral decoration. Dated 1967-1974. Measures: 24.5 x 3.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
Raija Uosikkinen and Ulla Procopé for Arabia. Four "Ruija" dinner plates
Located in København, Copenhagen
Raija Uosikkinen (1923–2004) and Ulla Procopé (1921–1968) for Arabia, Finland. A set of four "Ruija" dinner plates in stoneware with brown decoration. From the 1960s/1970s. Marked. ...
Stoneware
Marianne Westman for Rörstrand. Six "Maya" stoneware dinner plates. 1970s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Marianne Westman (1928-2017) for Rörstrand. A set of six "Maya" stoneware dinner plates. From the 1970s. Marked. In perfect condition. First factory quality. Dimensions: Diameter 24...
Stoneware
Marianne Westman for Rörstrand. Set of six "Maya" stoneware dinner plates.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Marianne Westman (1928-2017) for Rörstrand. A set of six "Maya" stoneware dinner plates. From the 1970s. Marked. In perfect condition. First factory quality. Dimensions: Diameter 24...
Stoneware
French Ceramist, 24 Dinner Plates in Glazed Stoneware, Mid-20th C
Located in København, Copenhagen
French ceramist. 24 dinner plates in glazed stoneware. Beautiful glaze in azure shades. Unique, high-quality ceramics. Mid-20th century. Measures: ...
Stoneware
Five Lobster Plates in Clear Glass, Josef Frank, Sweden, Mid-20th Century
Located in København, Copenhagen
Lobster plates, five plates in clear glass by Josef Frank. Produced at: Svenskt Tenn, Reijmyre / Gullaskruf, Sweden, mid-20th century. In good condition. Measures: 30 cm....
Reijmyre Glassworks, "Operakällaren", 12 Cover Plates, 12 Bread Dishes, 1980s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Reijmyre glassworks, "Operakällaren" art glass 12 cover plates, 12 pcs. bread or tapas or sushi dishes. Sweden 1980s. Measures: cover plate 30 cm, bread plate 22 cm...
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Georg Jensen Cactus Sterling Silver Dinner Plate Charger
By Gundorph Albertus, Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Cactus sterling silver dinner plate charger. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. Round well and sloping shoulder. Applied to rim are styl...
Sterling Silver
Raija Uosikkinen and Ulla Procopé, Arabia. Four "Ruija" dinner plates, 1960/70s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Raija Uosikkinen (1923–2004) and Ulla Procopé (1921–1968) for Arabia, Finland. A set of four "Ruija" dinner plates in stoneware with brown decoration. From the 1960s/1970s. Marked. ...
Stoneware
Olle Alberius for Rörstrand, Four Pontus Dinner Plates in Glazed Stoneware
Located in København, Copenhagen
Olle Alberius for Rörstrand. Four Pontus dinner plates in glazed stoneware with hand-painted floral motif. Swedish design, 1960s. Diameter: 24 cm. In excellent condition with l...
Stoneware
Jackie Lynd for Rörstrand, 12 Birgitta Dinner Plates in Hand Painted Stoneware
Located in København, Copenhagen
Jackie Lynd for Rörstrand. 12 Birgitta dinner plates in hand painted glazed stoneware, 1970s. Measure: Diameter 24 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped. ...
Stoneware
Danish Teak Plates by Hafnia, a Pair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage pair of pressed laminated teak wood plates by Hafnia. Manufacturer: Hafnia Origin: Denmark Year: 1960s Style: Mid-Century Modern / Scandinavian / Danish Modern Dimension...
Teak