Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
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
- Originated primarily in Denmark, Sweden and Finland
- Introduced in the United States in mid-20th century
- Informed by the Bauhaus and modernism; 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.
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Stone
1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Pine
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Chrome
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Slate, Steel
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Cane, Walnut
1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Chrome
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
1960s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Hardwood, Formica
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Concrete
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Cane, Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Glass, Rosewood
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Stoneware, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Rosewood
1970s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Birch
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Laminate, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Rosewood
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Steel
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Pine
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Ceramic, Wood
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Metal
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
1960s Italian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Glass, Teak
1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
1960s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Laminate, Birch
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Burl
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Rosewood
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Pine
1970s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Elm
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak, Teak
1970s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wenge
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Glass, Pine
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Stainless Steel
1970s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
1980s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Lacquer
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
1980s Unknown Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Smoked Glass, Wood
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Pine
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Pine
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century American Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
Coffee Tables and Cocktail Tables for Sale on 1stDibs
As a practical focal point in your living area, antique and vintage coffee tables and cocktail tables are an invaluable addition to any interior.
Low tables that were initially used as tea tables or coffee tables have been around since at least the mid- to late-1800s. Early coffee tables surfaced in Victorian-era England, likely influenced by the use of tea tables in Japanese tea gardens. In the United States, furniture makers worked to introduce low, long tables into their offerings as the popularity of coffee and “coffee breaks” took hold during the late 19th century and early 20th century.
It didn’t take long for coffee tables and cocktail tables to become a design staple and for consumers to recognize their role in entertaining no matter what beverages were being served. Originally, these tables were as simple as they are practical — as high as your sofa and made primarily of wood. In recent years, however, metal, glass and plastics have become popular in coffee tables and cocktail tables, and design hasn’t been restricted to the conventional low profile, either.
Visionary craftspeople such as Paul Evans introduced bold, geometric designs that challenge the traditional idea of what a coffee table can be. The elongated rectangles and wide boxy forms of Evans’s desirable Cityscape coffee table, for example, will meet your needs but undoubtedly prove imposing in your living space.
If you’re shopping for an older coffee table to bring into your home — be it an antique Georgian-style coffee table made of mahogany or walnut with decorative inlays or a classic square mid-century modern piece comprised of rosewood designed by the likes of Ettore Sottsass — there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Both the table itself and what you put on it should align with the overall design of the room, not just by what you think looks fashionable in isolation. According to interior designer Tamara Eaton, the material of your vintage coffee table is something you need to consider. “With a glass coffee table, you also have to think about the surface underneath, like the rug or floor,” she says. “With wood and stone tables, you think about what’s on top.”
Find the perfect centerpiece for any room, no matter what your personal furniture style on 1stDibs. Browse a vast selection of antique, new and vintage coffee tables and cocktail tables today.