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.
Modernist Danish Teak Four Panel Room Divider / Folding Screen, Circa 1960s
Located in Peabody, MA
A Danish four-panel folding screen / room divider in teak, circa 1960s. The teak on one side features a radiating starburst pattern. The reverse features carved botanical designs in ...
Teak
Scandinavian Modern Pine geometric room divider folding Screen 3 section
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scandinavian Pine geometric room divider with a 3-part fold and an open square lattice great design. Made in Sweden. Light weight easy to move a...
Pine
Set of Scandinavian Modern Screens or Room Dividers in Stained Beechwood, 1940s
Located in Odense, DK
Rare set of 5-sided vintage room dividers in stained beechwood handmade in the 1940s by a Scandinavian cabinetmaker. Beautiful five-panel screen, room divider, framing with intricately carved geometric design medallions in wood and negative space. This design is occasionally seen on the International design market, but still haven't been attributed to any specific designer. The style is similar to that of Hans J. Wegner, William Waiting...
Beech
Screen 100 In Pinewood By Alvar Aalto & Artek Designed in Finland 1936
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Reading, Berkshire
The Artek 100 Screen was designed by Alvar Aalto with a natural aesthetic for various interiors requiring privacy and separation within a room. Its lightweight design can be utilised...
Pine
Very Rare Folding Screen / Room Divider in Pine with Suede Strings, 1950's
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very Rare Folding Screen / Room Divider in Pine with Suede Strings, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Pine, with suede strings Style: Mid century, Scandinavia Produced by Alb...
Pine
Scandinavian Spåna teak screen from the 1950s/60s
Located in Brescia, IT
Scandinavian screen model Spåna by Alberts Tibro, 1950s/60s, made of woven teak with leather cord joints. Vintage Scandinavian screen model "Spåna," produced by Alberts Tibro in the...
Leather, Mahogany
Folding Screens / Room Dividers Produced by Alberts in Tibro, Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare pair of folding screens / room dividers. Produced by Alberts in Tibro, Sweden.
Suede, Pine
Swedish Mid Century Sculptural Iron Fire Screen Sparke Guard Aft Bertil Vallien
Located in Norwich, England
Stylish mid‑century Swedish folding three‑panel sculptural low fire screen/spark guard in hand‑forged iron. After a design by Bertil Vallien. Circa 1960-70. Featuring a linear frame...
Steel, Iron
Mats Theselius folding screen / room divider produced by Källemo, 1990s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare folding screen / room divider ‘Rörligt objekt’ by Mats Theselius, early 1990s. Aluminum with dot decoration in relief. Folds into four parts: 4 x 48 cm, height 188 cm.
Steel, Aluminum
Room divider / Screen, rattan, Scandinavian Modern, Swedish mid-1900s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful rare room divider in rattan, in the style of Larsson Korgmakare (maker of Josef Frank/Firma Svenskt Tenn rattan furniture). Decorative and practical, suits most rooms. ...
Rattan
Alvar Aalto Room / Screen Divider, Finland, 1960s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Excellent vintage condition with signs of usage and patina. Pinewood. Produced by Artek, Finland, late 1960s. Measures: Height 150 cm W 200 cm.
Pine
Alvar Aalto Room Divider Screen 100 By Artek 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Alvar Aalto's room divider, model 100, manufactured by Artek, material pine. The screen is from the 1950s, and in good used condition. Beautiful patina of time.
Pine
Bamboo and rattan folding screen, Scandinavia, second half of 1900s
Located in Brescia, IT
Three-leaf folding bamboo screen with woven rattan panels. Scandinavian-made folding screen dating from the second half of the 20th century, made of bamboo with woven rattan panels....
Bamboo, Rattan
Wonderful Pine Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in Munich, DE
Made from woven pine stripes in massive wooden frames connected with leather.
Pine
Poul Kjærholm PK-111 screen for E. Kold Christensen Denmark, 1956 / c. 1970s
By E. Kold Christensen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Skokie, IL
Poul Kjærholm PK-111 screen for E. Kold Christensen Denmark, 1956 / c. 1980 Designed 1956, produced 1961-1980 model no. PK-111 produced by E. Kold Christensen, Denmark. PK 111 is a ...
Pine
Alvar Aalto Room Divider Model 100 Produced by Artek in Finland
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Room divider model 100 designed by Alvar Aalto. Produced by Artek in Finland.
Pine
"Roomie" a Room Divider by eliaselias in Vintage Fabric, Danish Design, 2023
Located in Odense, DK
Introducing the "Roomie", a large room divider hand crafted by the visionary eliaselias team in 2023. This innovative piece seamlessly blends functionality and aesthetics, redefining...
Brass
Room Divider Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Room divider on wheels. Produced in Sweden. Dimensions (W x D x H): 85 ( 255 ) x 45 x 148 cm.
Steel
Wonderful Pine Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in Munich, DE
Made from woven pine stripes in massive wooden frames connected with leather.
Pine
H 9.25 in W 7.5 in D 5.5 in
Vintage Bakelite, Sheet Metal / Tin Globe from the 1950s, West Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Globe from the 1950s. Specially made on the subject of aviation. Depicted with all kinds of flying lines. Made by the company M.S. Germany. The globe is made of Tin and the stand is Bakelite. Globe and stand...
Metal
H 84 in W 80 in D 1 in
19th Century Four Panel Chinoiserie Room Divider Dressing Folding Screen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An impressive four panel painted folding screen featuring a variety of flowers. Each panel is delicately hand-painted in black, reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and blues. The rear side...
Canvas, Wood, Paint, Leather
H 72 in W 64 in D 1 in
Italian Four Panel Flowers and Birds Room Divider/Screen
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Italian four panel screen/room divider. Folder size 72x 16x 5"
Hardwood, Paint
H 3 in W 32.25 in D 18.5 in
Original Alvar Aalto Shoe Rack Designed for the Stora Enso Building Finland
By Alvar Aalto
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration is this rare and custom shoe rack designed by Alvar Aalto circa 1960 featuring solid birch wood slats. Custom designed by Alvar Aal...
Wood, Birch
H 11.03 in W 39.38 in D 11.82 in
Alvar Aalto Hat Rack / Coat Hanger in Birch, Model 113, Artek 1940s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
This early 1940s single wall shelf / hat rack model 113 is designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto for artek. This versatile shelf is in stained birch. The 2 triangular panels ...
Metal
H 57.09 in W 47.25 in D 1.58 in
1970s Italian room divider folding screen in style, Siso
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Double-sided screen by Siso, Italy, mid-century This is a charming double-sided screen from the 1970s, created by Siso, which combines functionality and aesthetics in a unique piece....
Wood
H 84 in W 128 in D 1 in
Chinoiserie Eight Panel Coromandel Folding Screen, Room Divider
Located in Hanover, MA
Chinese export lacquered coromandel folding screen with 8 panels 84” high x 16” wide each x 0.5” thick. Maximum width 128”. Stylized landscape design on both front and back featuring...
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
H 70.48 in W 61.42 in D 1.58 in
Rattan Bamboo Folding Screen Room Divider, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching handcrafted rattan / wicker and bamboo three-panel folding screen / room divider with filigree decoration. Manufactured in Spain, 1960s. This rattan folding screen combi...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Cane
H 21.66 in W 24.41 in D 7.49 in
Atelier Marolles Fire Screen, French c. 1950s
Located in Warminster, GB
A wrought iron and mesh fire screen attributed to Atelier Marolles. French, c. 1950s. Stock ref. #3045 In good sturdy order. The finials to either corner have been removed at some...
Iron
H 41.5 in W 47.25 in D 5.5 in
Rare Pierre-Adrien Ekman Hand Painted Folding Screen / Room Divider
Located in Forney, TX
An extraordinarily scarce French hand-painted oil on canvas wooden three panel folding screen - room divider; Signed P.A. Ekman (Pierre-Adrien Ekman, France, 1904-1993), fabulous Tro...
Wood, Paint
H 72 in W 47.99 in D 12 in
Chinoiserie Folding Screen or Room Divider
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
China, 1940s-1960s Folding screen or room divider in black lacquer with hand painted decoration. Chic and functional chinoiserie piece. Each side of the screen has a different design...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
H 72.05 in W 63.59 in D 5.32 in
Rare & Collectable Vintage Chinese Export Hardstone Folding Screen Room Divider
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this extremely well made and highly collectable Chinese Export circa 1940’s Hardstone room divider folding screen. A truly stunning and exquisit...
Stone
H 74.02 in W 76.78 in D 1.58 in
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB Limited Edition Folding Screen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mats Theselius for Källemo AB, limited edition 'Rörligt Objekt' folding screen or room divider, no. 88/100, patinated copper, wood, Sweden, after 1989 Designed by Mats Theselius fo...
Copper
H 66.93 in W 94.49 in D 1.19 in
Paravento a rullo anni ’40 di Jomain Baumann
Located in Brescia, IT
Paravento a rullo in legno composto da listelli uniti, produzione Jomain Baumann, Francia, anni Quaranta. Raro paravento a rullo prodotto da Jomain Baumann negli anni ’40, espressio...
Pine
H 59.06 in W 78.75 in D 0.3 in
Alvar Aalto Room Divider Screen 100 By Artek 1950s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Espoo, FI
Alvar Aalto's room divider, model 100, manufactured by Artek, material pine. The screen is from the 1950s, and in very good used condition. Beautiful patina of time.
Pine
H 59.06 in W 78.75 in D 0.6 in
Alvar Aalto, Wooden Room Divider, Screen 100 in Pine, Artek 1960s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek, Huonekalu-Ja Rakennustyötedas Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
The 100 slatted wall / room divider by Alvar Aalto is a dynamic interior element assembled from narrow vertical pine slats and can be rolled up and opened as a straight or in numerou...
Pine
H 64.97 in W 59.06 in D 19.69 in
Scandinavian room divider / folding screen in birch and leather 1940s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This room divider from Sweden is made of birch wood and comes with four foldable sections. Fine, dark stained joints are holding the room divider together. Decorative cutouts in the...
Birch
H 59.06 in W 78.75 in D 0.4 in
Model Screen 100 Room Dividers, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1970/1980s
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Model säleseinä 100 room dividers (3 pieces sold separately), designed by Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Artek, 1970/1980s. Thin pine wood strips that are easy to shape and move to des...
Pine
H 70.87 in W 70.87 in D 3.94 in
Mid-Century Modern Teak and Cane Three Panel Folding Screen, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful original handcrafted in cane woven screen divided into three panels connected to six teak uprights finished with brass hinged elements that can place the room divider in al...
Rattan, Teak, Cane
H 53.94 in W 47.25 in D 19.69 in
Mid Century Modern Room Divider in Rope & Elm Wood, Swedish Cabinetmaker, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
This Mid-Century Modern room divider, crafted by a Swedish cabinetmaker in the 1960s, features a unique combination of thick rope and elm wood. The elm wood frame provides a sturdy s...
Rope, Elm
H 71 in W 71 in D 19.5 in
Danish Teak Wall Unit Hutch by Hans J. Wegner for Ry Møbler, 1958
By Arne Vodder, Ry Møbler, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Born in the spring of 1958, this elegant wall-unit hutch by Hans J. Wegner for Ry Møbler stands as both a design marvel and a structural symphony. Composed of two distinct yet interl...
Teak, Pine
H 62.21 in W 94.49 in D 0.79 in
Alberts Tibro, Room Divider in Pine & Leather, Swedish Mid Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Introducing a Swedish Modern folding screen / roomdivider in pine and leather. Made by Alberts Tibro, Sweden, in the 1960s. A truly sculptural and artful piece, that will complement ...
Leather, Pine
H 59.06 in W 78.75 in D 0.4 in
Aalto Dividing Screen Model 100 for Artek
By Alvar Aalto, Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
The 100 slatted wall / room divider by Alvar Aalto is a dynamic interior element assembled from narrow vertical pine slats and can be rolled up and opened as a straight or in numerous curved positions. At 150-centimeter-high, the slatted wall divides the space without obscuring the view. It can easily be moved from one place to another bringing along with it the warm feeling that pine brings to the room. This wall dividing screen...
Pine
H 41.34 in W 74.81 in D 0.4 in
Pair of screens in patinated pine by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Aalto 100 - Pair of screens in patinated pine. Designed 1936. Alvar Aalto / Artek.
Pine