Rug, After a Design by MMF, Sweden, 1940s
View Similar Items
Rug, After a Design by MMF, Sweden, 1940s
About the Item
- Creator:Märta Måås-Fjetterström (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Width: 77.96 in (198 cm)Length: 133.08 in (338 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940's
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1006618883582
Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Märta Måås-Fjetterström was the leading figure in Swedish textile design in the early 20th century. Through her rug-weaving studio, MMF AB, Måås-Fjetterström introduced a modern and cosmopolitan spirit to the tradition-bound craft, creating some of the era’s most sublime rugs and carpets — works that are elegant yet have a handmade warmth and honesty.
Måås-Fjetterström was the daughter of a small-town minister, and her creative bent led her to study drawing at the School of Industrial Arts in Stockholm between 1890 and 1895. She became an art teacher after graduating and began drafting textile designs in the late 1890s. At the time, Sweden was experiencing many of the same cultural concerns that fueled the English Arts and Crafts movement: fears that industrialization was causing many traditional handicrafts to wither into extinction. The state supported numerous artisan workshops, and Måås-Fjetterström was hired as director of a weaving studio in the southern city of Mälmo in 1905. She was dismissed six years later for insisting that artisans be allowed to create original patterns rather than merely copy old ones.
She traveled widely in search of design inspirations, and in 1919 — thanks in large part to the patronage of Ludvig Nobel, grand-nephew of Alfred Nobel, who commissioned her to make all the rugs for a new country manor hotel — Måås-Fjetterström opened her own workshop. There she trained many of Sweden’s best modern weavers, including Barbo Nilsson and Marianne Richter (the latter, a widely celebrated mid-century modernist designer, became a leader at Måås-Fjetterström's atelier after its founder's death in 1941).
A major exhibition in Stockholm in 1934 brought public acclaim, a reputation secured worldwide by exhibitions at the British Museum in 1936 and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1939. Måås-Fjetterström’s company, MMF AB, is still in operation, and most of her roughly 700 designs are available for fabrication.
A broad range of influences can be seen in Måås-Fjetterström’s designs, among them Art Nouveau and classic Near Eastern and Asian styles. Her rug patterns fall roughly into two groups: The first includes stylized floral and other naturalistic motifs as well as modernized folkloric themes. The second comprises those employing geometric “tiles” in a formal composition based on that of Persian rugs, with an intricate border surrounding a central medallion.
Måås-Fjetterström generally used a subtle color palette: Soft pastels predominate, punctuated by the odd vibrant note. Her rugs are remarkable for their flexibility of use in decor schemes. They are a perfect complement to simple modern furniture in both blond and darker finishes; at the same time, the rugs can act as a perfect calming foil to more ornate historical styles. Måås-Fjetterström's creations, particularly signed vintage pieces, are highly collectible. Her designs are found in the world's leading museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.
Find a collection of vintage Märta Måås-Fjetterström rugs and carpets on 1stDibs.
- Rug ‘Ståndaren’ designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF, Sweden, 1928By Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in Stockholm, SERug ‘Ståndaren’ designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF, Sweden, 1928. Wool. Signed. This example was woven before 1942. The pattern "Ståndaren" was designed for the world-fam...Category
Vintage 1920s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Rug ‘Nyponblomman’ designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF, Sweden, 1932By Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in Stockholm, SERug ‘Nyponblomman’ designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF, Sweden, 1932. Wool. Signed. W: 232 cm L: 307 cm Length with fringes: 326 cmCategory
Vintage 1930s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Rug “Seashells” Designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1943By Barbro Lundberg NilssonLocated in Stockholm, SERug ‘Seashells’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1943. Handwoven wool. Tapestry technique. Dimensions: L: 270 cm/ 8' 10 1/2'' W: 196 cm/ 6' 5'' Barbro Nilsson introduc...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Rug ‘Salerno Green’ Designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden, 1948By Barbro Lundberg NilssonLocated in Stockholm, SERug ‘Salerno Green’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF, Sweden. 1948. Wool. Signed. Rölakan technique. This rug, designed in 1948, belongs to Barbro Nilsson’s renown...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Rug ‘Façade, Orange, Red’ Designed by Marianne Richter for MMF, Sweden, 1950sBy Marianne RichterLocated in Stockholm, SERölakan technique. Wool.Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Rug ‘Salerno Grey’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for MMF AB, Sweden, 1948By Barbro Lundberg NilssonLocated in Stockholm, SERug ‘Salerno Grey’ designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Sweden, 1948. Hand-woven wool. Rölakan technique. Signed. Provenance: From a private Swedish collect...Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Swedish Wall Hanging by Annie Frykholm and MMF, Mid-1940s 'Available Pair'By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Annie FrykholmLocated in New York, NYSwedish wall hanging Sweden, circa mid-1940s Attributed to Märta Måås-Fjetterström, designed by Annie Frykholm. Pair with #22221 is also available. ...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
MaterialsWool
- MMF Flat-Weave Swedish CarpetBy Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in New York, NY"Green Meadows" flat-weave carpet with geometric patterns by MMF, Sweden, circa 1950. Beautiful original condition. Artist signed in corner.Category
20th Century Swedish Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
Price Upon Request - Rug 'Ursula' by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF AB, Sweden, 1930sBy Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in Stockholm, SEModel Ursula by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF AB, Sweden, 1935.Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Shaggy Red Wool Rug by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström MMF, SwedenBy Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in Stockholm, SEVery rare shaggy wool rug / carpet designed by Barbro Nilsson for Märta Måås-Fjetterström / "MMF" and produced in the 1940s. In good vintage and original condition with signs from ag...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
- Swedish Modern Märta Måås Fjerterström Flat-Weave Rug Signed MMF, 1937By Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in Uccle, BEVintage Swedish wool flat-weave rug, designed by Marta Maas-Fjetterström (1873-1941). Made in 1937. Signed MMF which is proof Marta made this rug during her lifetime. After her de...Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool
$10,554 Sale Price20% Off - 20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet by AB MMFBy Märta Måås-FjetterströmLocated in New York, NY20th century Swedish flat-weave carpet. Initialed: AB MMF (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström)Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
MaterialsWool