Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of vintage Scandinavian modern furniture appear in the work of 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.
Characterized by bold, clean lines and simple, sturdy symmetries, Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with this style was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Bruno Mathsson, creator of the classic Grasshopper chair and Berlin daybed, but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the ’20s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced Scandinavian modern pieces 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. 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 he 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, maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Vernor Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern designs — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries. Even more than 50 years on from their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight.
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Teak
1960s Dutch Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Ash
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Pine
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Plastic
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Pine
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Chrome
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Rosewood, Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel, Aluminum
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak, Birch
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Faux Leather, Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Papercord, Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Teak
1930s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather
1980s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Papercord, Maple
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Pine
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Teak
1960s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Beech
1960s Dutch Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Naugahyde, Teak
1940s American Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cotton, Wood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Lacquer
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Chrome
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Suede, Wood, Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Rosewood
2010s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Teak
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Plywood
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wool, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Papercord, Walnut
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Pine
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wool, Teak
1960s Swiss Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Papercord, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
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