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
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.
$10,119 / set
Niels O. Møller Set of Four Rosewood Chairs
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Niels O. Møller set of four rosewood chairs, seats upholstered with black leather. Manufactured by J. L. Møller, Denmark.
Leather, Rosewood
Aage Schmidt Christensen Fritz Hansen Danish Teak Cognac Dining Chair Set of 4
By Aage Schmidt Christensen 1, Fritz Hansen
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Aage Schmidt Christensen dining chairs for Fritz Hansen. Modell version 4112. Solid teak wood and original vegetal cognac leather. These are very old and rare versions with the la...
Leather, Teak
$462 / item
Clarkester Seat Maple Black
Located in Cincinnati, US
A perfect mix of Scandinavian inspiration and industrial flare that cohesively come together to make a statement piece which embodies simplicity, functionality and elegance. The ...
Steel
$368 / item
Noa Chair Oak Prairie Green
Located in Cincinnati, US
Is it possible for an inanimate object to truly embody the essence of a yogi? To possess strength and harmony simultaneously? To effortlessly stand in the face of the seemingly impos...
Sheet Metal
Six Hans Wegner Dining Chairs, Model CH34 for Carl Hansen
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Rare set of six CH34 armchairs designed by Hans Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen of Denmark, circa 1960s. Sculpted teak and adjustable backs. Original black leather seats (one ...
Leather, Teak
Oak Arm Chair with Wenge Inlay by Hans J. Wegner for PP Mobler
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An oak armchair with wenge inlay detail to the C-shaped backrest with a paper cord seat.
Oak, Wenge
Niels Otto Møller Four Fully Restored Rosewood Dining Chairs - Custom Upholstery
By Niels Otto Møller, J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Knebel, DK
Set of four fully restored model 71 rosewood dining chairs designed by Niels Otto Møller in 1951. The chairs feature a solid frame and backrest in rosewood designed with straight li...
Rosewood
Set Of Four Series Seven Chairs Model 3107 In Black Fabric By Arne Jacobsen
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of 4 dining chairs, model 3107, also known as the "Seven Chair", designed by Arne Jacobsen and produced by Fritz Hansen. The chairs are originally upholstered in black fabric. Th...
Fabric
2021 CH88T Dining Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Grey Beech
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are two (sold separately) CH88T dining chairs, made with a powder coated steel frame, beech back and a wood seat. The chairs were designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl H...
Steel
$6,824 / set
Ole Wanscher Set of Six Chairs for a. J. Iversen
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Ole Wanscher set of six chairs in mahogany with seats of black leather. Executed by A. J. Iversen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Leather, Mahogany
$3,600 / item
Minimal Chair by Hans J. Wegner for PP Mobler
Located in Sagaponack, NY
"Model 701" minimal armchair with sculpted maple and wenge inlay backrest, original red upholstered seat and frame in chromium-plated steel.
Steel
2021 BA003T Preludia Sled Dining Chair by Brad Ascalon for Carl Hansen in Oak
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Brad Ascalon
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a BA003T Preludia Sled Dining Chair, designed by Brad Ascalon and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a solid o...
Steel
2021 EOO4 Dining Chair by EOOS for Carl Hansen in Blue Fabric & Oak
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an EOO4 Embrace dining chair with a solid oak frame and a light blue down seat with white trim. The chair was designed by EOOS and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. T...
Oak, Down
2021 BA002F Preludia Dining Chair by Brad Ascalon for Carl Hansen in Fabric
By Brad Ascalon, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a BA002F Preludia 4-Leg Dining Chair, designed by Brad Ascalon and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a black powder-coated steel fra...
Steel
Oak and Leather Dining Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, 1950s
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A superbly crafted dining chair largely devoid of extraneous detailing, having exposed oiled white oak frames with gently curved backs and tapered dowel-form legs and natural leather...
Leather, Oak
$2,706 / set
1950S, Set of Four Prikka Chairs by Tapiovaara
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Laukaan Puu
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Four Pirkka chairs with seats of birch wood. The chairs show some traces of use and they diver slightly in dimensions. The chair on the first five pictures has a spot of white pai...
Wood
Oak and Leather Dining Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, 1950s
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A superbly crafted dining chair largely devoid of extraneous detailing, having exposed oiled white oak frames with gently curved backs and tapered dowel-form legs and natural leather...
Leather, Oak
Set of 4 In Between Sk2 Chair, Black Lacquered Oak & Kvadrat - Fiord 191 for &T
Located in Dubai, AE
Inspired by the Scandinavian heritage of design and furniture craftmanship, In Between is a result of Sami Kallio’s solid grounding in traditional wood- working techniques and his ey...
Oak, Fabric
2021 CH33T Dining Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Black Beech
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a CH33T Chair designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a solid beech frame and painted black. This chair dates to circa 20...
Beech
2021 CH88T Dining Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Turquoise Beech
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a CH88T dining chair made with a turquoise powder coated steel frame, beech back and wood seat. The chair was designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Den...
Steel
High Back Barcelona Chair by Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant and finely detailed armchair mahogany that retains its original striated horsehair fabric, leather welting and patinated brass tacks.
Brass
$32,000 / set
the Slender Chair by Vestergaard Jensen, 1957
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautiful set of four Scandinavian Modern dining chairs designed by Helge Vestergaard Jensen. Each chair is rosewood framed and upholstered in black wool. Made in Denmark, circa 19...
Rosewood, Wool
Wonderful and Unique Dining Chairs by Theodor Hellberg
By Theodor Hellberg
Located in Munich, DE
A unique pair - handcrafted in two kinds of wood 1935 - by cabinetmaker Theodor Hellberg located in Norrköping/ Denmark.
Wood
Dining Chair by Arne Vodder for France and Daverkosen, 1956
By France & Daverkosen, Arne Vodder
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A dining chair having an exposed teak frame supporting wrapped molded seats and backs, the backs with a unique brass-hinged pivoting adjustment.
Teak, Upholstery
$4,800 / set
Pivot Back Dining Chairs
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An oak dining chair with a pivoting backrest and upholstered seat. Two chairs available with arms (24" W) and four without arms (20" W).
Upholstery, Oak
1965, Verner Panton, Rare Purple Stacking Chair 1st Herman Miller Edition
By Herman Miller, Verner Panton
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach,check last five pictures, find more details on his family name plus eu, is for sale soon too. :-) From the early 1950s, Panton had dreamt of making a stackable, cantilevered plastic chair all in one piece. In 1956, he designed the S Chair which can be considered a forerunner of the Panton chair. He saw it as an item of furniture in which the back, seat and legs were made of the same material and in one continuous piece. It was first produced in 1965. Panton made a series of sketches and design drawings for the Panton chair in the 1950s. In 1960, he created his first model, a plaster-cast, in collaboration with Dansk Akrylteknik. In the mid-1960s, he met Willi Fehlbaum, who, unlike many other producers, was fascinated with the drawings of his legless chair...
Polyester
$1,481 / set
Scandinavian wooden chairs
Located in Brescia, IT
Set of four vintage Scandinavian beech pinnstolar chairs, with legs and back made of wooden stems, represents an iconic Nordic design pattern. These chairs, typical of the Scandinav...
Beech
Set of 6 In Between SK2 Chairs-Smoked Oiled Oak/Kvadrat Fiord 171 for &Tradition
By &Tradition
Located in Dubai, AE
Inspired by the Scandinavian heritage of design and furniture craftmanship, In Between is a result of Sami Kallio’s solid grounding in traditional wood- working techniques and his ey...
Fabric, Oak
Rare Set of Four Solid Teak Chairs Original Leather Upholstery by Hans J. Wegner
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare set of four (4) armless dining chairs retaining the original green oxhide upholstery.
Teak, Leather
Scandinavian Designer Dining Armchairs
Located in Paris, FR
An Iconic Design that express the talented Nordic Design using Green Technology. The unique arms of the chair embrace the whole piece, The minimalistic creased lines and the functional form are inspired by the New Nordic design in a culmination of comfort . This lounge chair is made of sustainable birch plywood using CNC cut with innovating waste efficiency technology. Using the highest quality woods with natural non-toxic glues and premium eco-friendly fabrics. Finish: Dark grey tainted & Natural , Matte This piece is assembled and finished by professional craftsmen. Fabric high end 100 % New Wool It comes with two pillows and one or two different color tones of fabric as you can choose. W 74 cm 29” D 99 cm 39” H 70 cm 28” We offer free shipping to Europe...
Birch
Scandinavian Designer Black Yellow Dining Arm Chair
Located in Paris, FR
This dining chair takes exquisite inspiration from Danish design and Portuguese heritage through the most modern of production methods to bring you a timeless yet ultra-modern crafte...
Birch, Wool
Yngve Ekström Dining Chairs Model Knockdown Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare set of 4 dining chairs ‘Knockdown’ designed by Yngve Ekström. Produced in Sweden.
Brass
2020 CH33T Dining Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Silver Grey
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a CH33T Chair designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a solid beech frame and painted Silver Grey (we believe ...
Beech
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.