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Scandinavian Modern Stools

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 

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

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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Style: Scandinavian Modern
Period: 1950s
Scandinavian Modern Triangular Stools in Blue Floral Tapestry, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
Pair of triangular stools made by a Danish cabinetmaker in the 1950s. The stools are made of an elegant curved wooden frame, that has been reupholster...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Tapestry, Oak

Sheepskin and teak stools by Hugo Frandsen, Spøttrup, Denmark
Located in Hägersten, SE
Pair of stools designed by Hugo Frandsen. Produced by Spøttrup in Denmark during the 1960s. Made from solid teak with new sheep skin upholstery. Very good vintage condition with ligh...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Sheepskin, Walnut

Swedish Designer, Stool, Teak, Fabric, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A teak and floral-printed fabric stool designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Fabric is designed by Josef Frank, and likely added to the stool at some point in history. Seat he...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric, Teak

Midcentury Stool in Oak, Made in Denmark 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Stool in patinated oak, designed made by a danish cabinetmaker.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Stool in Solid Teak by ESA, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Rare stool in solid teak. Designed and made by ESA Møbelværk. Great original condition.
Category

1950s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Teak

Lisa Johansson-Pape, Apila stool, pine circa 1960
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
Lisa Johansson-Pape, Apila stool, made in solid pine circa 1960, produced by Stockmann Oy in Finland. Good vintage condition. Lisa Johansson-Pape is one of the most talented finnish ...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Pirkka Stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pirkka Stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu, c.1950s, Finland. This pine stool features a dark stained rectangular seat and four splayed legs. Dimensions
 17" width x 12.25" d...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Norweigian Pine Stool for Norsk Husflid, 1950
Located in Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Stockholms län
Norweigian pine stool designed and manufactured by Norsk Husflid in the 50's. This tripod stool is made with three slim feets with a horse saddle shaped seat on top. A really special...
Category

1950s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Modernist pine stool in the taste of Carl Malmsten 1950s
Located in Forest, BE
This is an elegant rectangular pine. Produced in Sweden around the 1950s. It is a beautiful shape, the grain is showing a high quality wood. The legs can be unscrewed. Nice patina o...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Matching Set of Three Poul Kjærholm PK33 Stools by E. Kold Christensen
Located in Dronten, NL
Rare all original early production Poul Kjaerholm E. Kold Christensen set of 3 PK33 stools. Black leather seat pad and matte-chromed steel base with grey lacquered circular plywood s...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Hans Wegner AP-30 Oak & Leather Piano Stool c1950s
Located in London, GB
Hans Wegner - AP-30 Piano Stool, 1957 Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark, this model was an evolution of the AP-29 Papa Bear ottoman. The rarely seen piano stool has an additional c...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

Tony Paul Attribution, Stool, Wood, Rattan, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and rattan stool attributed to Tony Paul, USA, c. 1950s. seat height 11.25.
Category

1950s American Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Rattan, Wood

A Pair of Alvar Aalto Stools Model 60 In Birch, 1950s Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
A pair of Artek stools in birch and muliti layered colourful beautiful patina, designed by Alvar Aalto and retailed by Artek in the 1950s. The model 60 stool is perhaps the most well...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Set of Finnish Modern "Apila" Pine Stools by Rauni Peippo, Oy Stockmann, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
Set of 5 "Apila" pine stools by Finnish designer Rauni Peippo made in the 1950s at Kervo Snickers for Oy Stockmann, Finland. All stools in original finish and lacquer. One stool reta...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Swedish Designer, Stool, Pine, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine stool designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Seat height 16”
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

A Pair of Marke Niskala-Luostarinen Stools, Oy Stockmann Ab, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A truely brilliant Finnish designed stool with no screws, bolts or nails. The stool is only made up of three pieces that simply slide into place to create a stool. The stools are i...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Olof Kettunen, Stool, Plywood, Metal, Finland, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A moulded red-painted plywood and black-lacquered metal stool designed by Olof Kettunen and produced by J. Merivaara Oy, Finland, 1950s Seat height 16”.
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

Danish Designer, Stools, Walnut, Mohair, Denmark, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of dark-stained walnut and green mohair stools designed and produced in Denmark, 1950s.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Mohair, Walnut

Midcentury Stool Model Pragh Designed by Ib Madsen & Acton Schubell
Located in Lejre, DK
Ottoman in fabric, designed by Danish architects Ib Madsen & Acton Schubell.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric

Midcentury stool by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Neat stool by Josef Frank, made from mahogany with elegantly sculpted feet. Rattan seat in a densely wreathed pattern.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Alvar Aalto Stool X602, 1950s Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab
Located in Helsinki, FI
Alvar Aalto stool model X602, manufactured in Finland by Oy Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab back in the 1950s. A rare model, the X-leg stool is one of the simplest yet most brill...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Bentwood

Alvar Aalto Stool Model 60 In Birch, 1950s Artek
Located in Helsinki, FI
Artek stool in birch and beautiful dark patina, designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured by Artek in the 1950s. The model 60 stool is perhaps the most well known Aalto design and has...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

A danish stool form the mid century.
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
An elegant Danish stool, teak frame with a corded seat. The stool's supports are adorned with pyramidal motifs, exquisite patina, and in very good condition.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Rope, Teak

Pine Stools with Linen Fabric Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Set of 3 stools by unknown designer. Produced in Sweden.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Linen, Pine

Scandinavian / Norwegian Stool Model 522 Collection in Pine by Krogenaes Möbler
Located in Örebro, SE
This is the Norwegian Krogenæs Möbler’s solid pine stool set of three, model nr 522. It comes in a stable, three legged construction with patinated untreated surface. Two of the thre...
Category

1950s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Hans Wegner Ap-29 Papa Bear Ottoman in Oak and Boucle
Located in London, GB
Hans J. Wegner AP-29 Papa Bear Ottoman, 1953 The Papa Bear chair is one of Danish master Hans J. Wegner's most iconic designs and is perfectly complimetned by the matching AP-29 ottoman. Produced by A.P. Stolen in Denmark this piece features beautifully aged and patinated oak handles and legs that have been sensitively restored. This example has been reupholstered in luxurious Dedar Karakorum...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Wool, Bouclé, Oak

Early Alvar Aalto for Artek Birch and Black Laminate Stool 60
Located in Garnerville, NY
A good and early example by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Sweden bentwood birch and black laminate Stool 60. Circa 1950. Fully signed on the bottom with ink stamp, Aalto Design, Artek, Made...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Laminate, Birch, Bentwood

Arne Hovmand Olsen Tripod Stool in Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Arne Hovmand-Olsen, milking stool, beech, Denmark, 1950s. This Danish tripod stool by Arne Hovmand-Olsen contains a remarkable halved seat, which...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Beech

Danish Designer, Ottoman, Teak, Leather, Denmark, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A teak and leather ottoman or stool designed and produced in Denmark, 1950s
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Teak

Stool model 60, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Stool model 60 by Alvar Aalto for Artek from the 1950s. Lacquered birch and linoleum top. Good vintage condition, rich patina and wear consistent with age and use. Iconic Alvar Aalto...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Rare Alvar Aalto Stool 60 in Original Formica, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful and rarely seen example of the iconic Aalto stools with the original formica seating. These 3 legged stools have long been our customers favorites, especially in rare col...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Formica, Birch

Pine foot stole by Krogenæs Møbler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pine foot stole by Krogenæs Møbler, Norway. Great rustic design typical for the era. Good vintage condition with age appropriate wear, such as stains and smaller cracks. Size: W 21...
Category

1950s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Midcentury Modern Stool, mahogany and leather, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elegant Swedish midcentury stool, made from mahogany in a strict form. Brown leather seat with heavy patina, cool cutout details.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Alvar Aalto's iconic Stool 60, from Artek 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Alvar Aalto's iconic Stool 60, from Artek 1950s, s the epitome of minimalistic furniture, versatile enough to serve as a seat, a table, a storage unit, or even a display surface. Thi...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Tale stool with form-pressed plywood seat by Asko Ltd.
Located in Helsinki, FI
A stuningly beautiful stool. It looks so aerodynamic that it gives the impression of being able to fly. Ilmari Tapiovaara gave a lot of attention to simplicity, functionality with ...
Category

1950s Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch, Plywood

Rare Stool Model 60, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Stool model 60 by Alvar Aalto for Artek from the 1950s. Birch with rare color imitation leather. Good vintage condition, patina and wear consistent with age and use. Beautiful honey ...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Birch

Expertly Restored - Yngve Ekstrom "Lamino" Sculpted Oak Ottoman for Swedese
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Yngve Ekstrom "Lamino" Sculpted Oak Ottoman for Swedese ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back ...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak, Bentwood

Model 60 Stools, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1950s/1960s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Three model 60 stools by Alvar Aalto for Artek from the 1950s/1960s. Birch and imitation leather. Good vintage condition, minor patina and wear consistent with age and use. Iconic Al...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Birch

Scandinavian Modern Birch and Rattan Stools by Bernt Petersen, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of beautiful birch and rattan stools by Bernt Petersen. Beautiful, slender design with sculpted legs and seats that are subtly concave.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Rattan, Birch

Ilmari Tapiovaara Pirkka Stool for Laukaan Puu
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pirkka stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara. Designed for Laukaan Puu in 1957, stamped. Three available sold separately.  
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Rare stool model 60, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Stool model 60 by Alvar Aalto for Artek from the 1950s. Birch with rare color imitation leather. Good vintage condition, patina and wear consistent with age and use. Beautiful honey ...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Birch

Poul Hundevad Guldhoj Oak Folding Stool, 1948
Located in London, GB
Poul Hundevad - Guldhoj Folding Stool, 1948 The iconic model 41 folding stool in beautifully aged Danish oak with original, patinated cognac brown saddle leather seat. The Guldhoj s...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

Folding stool by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Denmark 1959
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare folding stool designed by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for Ludvig Pontoppidan, Denmark 1959. This chair is made out of solid oak and still has the original black leather ...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

Set of Two Model 60 Stools, Alvar Aalto, Artek, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Set of two model 60 stools by Alvar Aalto for Artek from the 1950s. Birch with imitation leather. Good vintage condition, patina and wear consistent with age and use. Iconic Alvar Aa...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Birch

Mid Century Stools Designed by Ebert Wels, Scandinavian Design, 60s
By Ebert Wels
Located in Lucija, SI
Beautiful vintage Wooden Stools were designed by Ebert Wels in '60s. Scandinavian design. These retro stools have wooden frame and beige rope seats. Stoo...
Category

1950s German Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Rope, Wood

Poul Hundevad Guldhoj Rosewood Folding Stool, 1948
Located in London, GB
Poul Hundevad - Guldhoj Folding Stool, 1948 The iconic model 41 folding stool in beautiful rosewood with original, patinated cognac brown saddle leather seat. The Guldhoj stool was ...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

Marke Niskala-Luostarinen Stool, Oy Stockmann Ab, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A truely brilliant Finnish designed stool with no screws, bolts or nails. The stool is only made up of three pieces that simply slide into place to create a stool. The stool is in ...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Scandinavian Modern stool of pine by Ingvar Hildingsson, signed.
Located in Skå, SE
Experience the enduring charm of Scandinavian Modern design with the Ingvar Hildingsson Stool crafted from premium pine. This timeless piece showcases the perfect blend of simplicity...
Category

1950s Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Set of 2 Early Alvar Aalto Stools, Finland, 1950's
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 2 early Alvar Aalto stools in bentwood for Artek, Finland 1950s. The stools have a nice matched patina. Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) was a Finnish architect, designer, and urban ...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Bentwood

Rustic Danish Milking Stool, 1950s
Located in Valby, 84
Rustic wabi Sabi style of milking stool in solid dark stained beechwood made in Denmark in the 1950s. The stool is in good condition with a beautiful and signs of use which adds c...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Beech

Alvar Aalto, Set of Commissioned Stools by Artek, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful set of three commisioned iconic 60 stool. These stools are higher than the standard model and stand at a height of. The stools are in birch and have a beautiful patina. T...
Category

1950s Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Børge Mogensen "J27" Beech Stool for FDB Møbler, Denmark 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Designed by Børge Mogensen in 1955, the “J27” stool remains a solid and practical piece. With a multitude of purposes, form and function remain at the forefront of this design. Almos...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Beech

Wishbone Ottoman by Hans J. Wegner
Located in Dorchester, MA
Hans Wegner designed this rarely seen ottoman to accompany his Wishbone seating for Carl Hansen. The original tapered oak frame features a papercord seat, newly wrapped. Manufactu...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Papercord, Oak

Midcentury Stool in Beech, Made in Denmark, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Stool in beech with fabric seat. Designed and med in Denmark, 1950s.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Beech, Fabric

Pirkka Stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Pirkka stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara from the 1950s. Pinewood. Good vintage condition, minor wear consistent with age and use. Marked on the bottom. Iconic I...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Midcentury Stool in Oak, Made in Denmark, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Stool in solid oak and fabric, designed made in Denmark, 1950s.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

1950s Fully Restored Danish Stool
Located in Knebel, DK
1950s Fully restored danish stool. The stool feature a simple and elegant design with it's curved upholstered seat on top of it's four fluted chair leg...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Beech

Bertel Gardberg, Set of 5 Stools from 1950s'
Located in Helsinki, FI
These amazing stools were designed by marvelous Finnish designer Bertel Gardberg (1919-2007) in 1950s'. He was the master of form and function. The stools ar...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Stools

Materials

Pine

Scandinavian Modern stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Scandinavian Modern stools for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage stools created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Scandinavian Modern stools made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Denmark pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original stools, popular names associated with this style include Alvar Aalto, Artek, Ingvar Hildingsson, and Fritz Hansen. 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 stools differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $88 and tops out at $52,616 while the average work can sell for $1,856.

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