Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN STYLE
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
- Emerged in the 1930s
- Scandinavian design and Nordic design originated primarily in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway
- Introduced in the United States in mid-20th century
- Informed by the Bauhaus; influenced American mid-century modernism
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries
- Use of natural materials — native woods such as pine, ash and beech
- Open, airy spaces
- Promotion of functionality
- Emphasis on craftsmanship; rooted in cabinetry profession and traditional construction techniques
- Minimal ornamentation (little to no embellishment)
- A neutral or light color palette owing to prominence of light woods
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Alvar Aalto
- Hans Wegner
- Kaare Klint
- Arne Jacobsen
- Greta Magnusson Grossman
- Finn Juhl
- Arne Vodder
- Verner Panton
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.
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868
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Style: Scandinavian Modern
Carpet Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare carpet by unknown designer. Produced in Sweden.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Erik Lundberg Carpet Model Korall Brun Produced by Vävaregården in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare flat-weave carpet model Korall brun designed by Erik Lundberg. Produced by Vävaregården in Sweden.
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Vintage Scandinavian Kilim Rug, circa Mid-20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a Scandinavian flat-woven rug from the mid-20th century. It is signed by the designer. The color palette comprises of gentle shades of pink, icy blue, ivory, and brown in com...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Vintage Swedish Kilim Rug, circa Mid-20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is beautiful vintage Swedish Kilim rug by designer Anna Joanna Angstrom from the mid-20th century. Its soft colors of greens, blues, and pinks evoke a sense of calmness while th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Vintage Swedish Deco Rug, circa Mid-20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This a boldly colored vintage Swedish deco shag rug from the mid-20th century with expressive lines that give it distinct character. It's an exciting piece, with organic, curvy lines...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Rya Rug Spanish Dance Design
Located in Ferrara, IT
Transform any room into an eye-catching masterpiece with the Swedish Rollakan Rug! This timeless, simplistic design featuring a flat weaving technique is sure to be a conversation st...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Vintage Scandinavian Kilim Rug, circa Mid-20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a vintage Scandinavian Kilim from the mid-20th century. It features dainty geometric florals rendered in a lattice work pattern of soft blues, pinks, and yellow greens which ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Swedish Flatweave Rug Rollakan Signed, 1950-1970
Located in Ferrara, IT
220 x 144 cm is the size of this Swedish kilim rug known as Röllakan, handmade with linen warp and wool weft in the Southern province of Sweden. Swedish flat weave is a flat weaving ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Rya Rug Swedish Vintage Abstract Design
Located in Ferrara, IT
This is a vintage Swedish rug woven during the mid-20th century circa 1950 – 1970’s and measures 152 x 98CM in size. It has a highly modern design focused around two abstract circles...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Rya Rug with Modern Vintage Design Look, 1950-1970
Located in Ferrara, IT
This Rya rug is a beautiful, scandi-inspired design piece that will add a touch of elegance to any room. This piece is woven around 1950-1970 and has a modern look that will compleme...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Modern Swedish Pile Runner with Geometric Grid Design by Doris Leslie Blau
Located in New York, NY
Modern Swedish Pile Runner with Geometric Grid Design by Doris Leslie Blau
Size: 3'7" × 13'10" (109 × 421 cm)
This striking contemporary runner takes inspiration from traditional Swe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Vintage Swedish Flatweave
Located in New York, NY
Handwoven, Vintage, Swedish flatweave rug.
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Textile
$14,000
Mid-20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Rug by AB MMF
Located in New York, NY
Sweden, circa 1946
Measures: 13'2" x 8'1" (401 x 246 cm)
Initialed: AB MMF, BN (AB Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Barbro Nilsson)
Handwoven.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century Finnish Flat-Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Finland, circa 1920
Measures: 9'11" x 6'6" (302 x 198 cm)
Handwoven.
Category
Early 20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Pile Rug
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th century Swedish Pile rug, Sweden, circa 1930.
Handwoven
Measures: 6'11" x 5'5" (211 x 165 cm).
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Swedish Pile & Flat-Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Handwoven pile and flat-weave
Measures: 5'5" x 3'0" (165 x 91 cm).
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
20th Century Swedish Handwoven Flat-Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Swedish handwoven flat-weave rug
Sweden, 20th century.
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Cotton
20th Century Swedish Handwoven Flat Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Swedish handwoven flat-weave rug
Sweden, 20th century.
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Cotton
Vintage Swedish Pile Rug by Södra Kalmar Läns Hemslöjd
By Södra Kalmar
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Swedish Pile rug
Sweden, circa 1950
Handwoven
Initialed: SKLH, 1950 (Södra Kalmar Läns Hemslöjd).
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Swedish Flat Weave Rug by Rakel Callander
Located in New York, NY
Swedish Flat Weave Rug
Designed by Rakel Callander
Handwoven
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Contemporary 'Gingham' Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary 'Gingham' Carpet
Swedish flat-weave technique.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Mid 20th Century Scandinavian Half Pile Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Handwoven
9'10" x 6'10" (300 x 208 cm)
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mixed Weave Rug by Brita Grahn
By Brita Grahn
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th century Swedish Flat woven and Pile Rug
Initialed 'BG' (Brita Grahn).
Sweden ca. 1940
Handwoven
6'11" x 4'8" (211 x 142 cm)
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th century Swedish flat-weave carpet.
Attributed to Ingrid Hellman-Knafve 'Gul Ruta" design.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
"Fiskar" 20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet by Elsa Fullberg
Located in New York, NY
"Fiskar" 20th century Swedish flat-weave carpet by Elsa Fullberg.
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Mid 20th Century Swedish Pile-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Sweden ca. 1970
Handwoven
14'3" x 8'4" (434 x 254 cm)
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool, Chenille
Mid 20th Century Swedish Rya Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Sweden ca. 1960
Handwoven
6'5" x 4'7" (196 x 140 cm)
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
20th century Swedish flat-weave carpet, initialed "ILS".
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet by Marta Afzelius
Located in New York, NY
20th century Swedish flat-weave carpet, initialed "MA" Marta Afzelius.
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Early- 20th Century Finnish Flat-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Early-20th century Finnish flat-weave carpet.
Category
1920s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet
Sweden, circa 1930.
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Swedish Wall Hanging by Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Located in New York, NY
Swedish wall hanging by Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Handwoven.
Category
20th Century Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Carin Wästberg, Swedish Wall Hanging
By Carin Wästberg
Located in New York, NY
Swedish wall hanging
Designed by Carin Wästberg (1859-1942).
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Contemporary "Romb" Carpet, Swedish Pile Technique
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary "Romb" carpet
Swedish Pile technique
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Contemporary 'Swedish Square II' Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary 'Swedish Square II' carpet.
Pile technique.
Handwoven
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Nepalese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Contemporary 'Hector' Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary 'Hector' Design Carpet
Swedish pile and flat-weave technique.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
$13,000
Contemporary 'Ingrid' Design
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary 'Ingrid' Design
Swedish pile technique.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Contemporary 'Vass' Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary 'Vass' Carpet
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
$18,000
Contemporary 'Brita' Design
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary 'Brita' Design
Swedish flat-weave technique.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
$12,440
Contemporary 'Marion' Carpet
Located in New York, NY
This contemporary and geometric hand-woven rug was inspired in the modern aesthetic of Marion Dorn.
Enhancing its flossy textural feel, the field is woven in the pile technique with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Nepalese Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Goat Hair, Alpaca, Wool
$11,000
20th Century Swedish Flat-Weave Carpet
Located in New York, NY
20th century Swedish flat-weave carpet.
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Scandinavian Modern rugs and carpets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Scandinavian Modern rugs and carpets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage rugs and carpets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include rugs and carpets, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Scandinavian Modern rugs and carpets made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original rugs and carpets, popular names associated with this style include Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Ingegerd Silow, Barbro Lundberg Nilsson, and Brita Grahn. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for rugs and carpets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $495 and tops out at $120,000 while the average work can sell for $38,500.