Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
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 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.
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.
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Cotton
Mid-20th Century Polish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Cotton
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
Mid-20th Century European Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
Late 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Cotton
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Linen, Wool
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Early 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century European Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1970s Unknown Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s European Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Cotton
1950s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Polish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Cotton
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Jute, Straw
1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Tapestry
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Linen
Early 2000s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool, Linen
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1950s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Hungarian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Polish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Jute
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool
2010s Indian Scandinavian Modern Tapestries
Wool