Art Deco glass ceiling pendant mod. 939 by Bertil Brisborg/Carl fagerlund

Many museums, churches and headquarters of large companies house the work of Scandinavian modernist lighting designer Carl Fagerlund. Initially an instructor of illustration, Fagerlund shifted into the world of lighting design during the 1940s with the advantage of having an artist’s eye, and today his vintage table lamps, chandeliers, wall lights and other fixtures enrich dwellings and continue to captivate collectors all over the world.

During the early 1940s, Fagerlund taught burgeoning artists to draw at Solbacka läroverk, a private boarding school in Sweden that was based on the successful institutions of its type in the United Kingdom. Shortly thereafter, he took a job designing provocative sconces and other wall fixtures of brass and textured glass elements for a manufacturing company in Stockholm called ASEA (Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, or General Swedish Electrical Limited Company). 

Fagerlund is best known, however, for the work he did at Orrefors Glassworks, a legendary glassworks in Småland that garnered worldwide acclaim for its wares after introducing a range of decorative objects and art glass at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925 — the huge design fair that brought global attention to Art Deco. Fagerlund joined Orrefors in 1946 and designed richly intricate mid-century modernist pendants, flush mount lighting, a range of works with Murano glass and other fixtures for more than three decades. 

Fagerlund’s designs can be found in Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde, a museum “castle” that was once the private residence of royalty, the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo and the head office for General Motors, U.S.A. in Detroit, Michigan. 

Find vintage Carl Fagerlund flush mount lighting, pendants, serveware and other items on 1stDibs.

Since its inception, luxury retailer Nordiska Kompaniet, known affectionately to its customers as “NK,” has offered an influential platform for innovators in furniture design. Its department stores in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, have been home to many of the top names in mid-century modern design and in Scandinavian modernism. Admired for its production of high-quality pieces, it continues to support forward-looking designers.

Nordiska Kompaniet was founded in 1902 through the merger of the companies K.M. Lundberg and Joseph Leja. Its founder, Josef Sachs, envisioned a department store as a cultural arena that would rival the luxury stores of Paris. He opened a flagship store in Stockholm in 1915. Early on, the brand set its sights on quality furniture making, bringing on master cabinetmaker Axel Einar Hjorth, who headed its production from 1927 to 1938. 

The Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 was pivotal for both Nordiska Kompaniet and the world of design as a whole. NK’s installation, designed by Sven Markelius, positioned the artist as a key influencer and force majeure of Swedish functionalism.

Nordiska Kompaniet has continued to hire renowned designers throughout its operations, including such luminaries as Carl Bergsten, David Rosen and Gio Ponti. Many iconic sofas, lounge chairs, bookcases and dining room tables from the mid-century modern period originated in its furniture shop. The brand has also been at the forefront of textile, ceramic and wallpaper design, with artists Berndt Friberg, Josef Frank, Stig Lindberg and Elsa Gullberg among those who have contributed to NK’s brand legacy.

To cater to its growing customer base, Nordiska Kompaniet opened a second store in Gothenburg in 1971. Today, NK continues to provide patronage to top designers, remaining a leader in high-end furniture production. 

Find antique and vintage Nordiska Kompaniet tables, seating, mirrors, lighting and other furniture on 1stDibs.