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Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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: 1910s
MOGENS KOCH Bookcase/Wall Unit Oregon Pine foe Rud Rasmussen
Located in Hudson, NY
Oregon pine, ten open bookcases and two cabinets , all with manufacturing label on the back. Each bookcase is separate and can be rearranged as desired. Rud Rasmussen originally desi...
Category

1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Pine

Nordiska Kompaniet, Arm Chairs, Birch, Fabric, Sweden, 1919
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of stained birch and beige fabric, designed and produced by Nordiska Kompaniet for the head office of Systembolaget, Sweden, 1919. 19” seat height
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Birch

Herman Kähler, Urn, Glazed Earthenware, Denmark, c. 1910
Located in High Point, NC
A blue, orange and green-glazed earthenware urn, designed and produced by Herman Kähler, Denmark, c. 1910.    
Category

1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Painting "Sunset in the Countryside", Denmark, Early 20th Century
Located in Chorzów, PL
Painting "Sunset in the Countryside", Denmark, early 20th century. Wymiary z rama : 95 x 75 cm Wymiary bez ramy : 83 x 63 cm.
Category

1910s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood

"Rural Cottage" Painting
Located in Chorzów, PL
"Rural cottage" painting Dimensions with frame: 56 x 46 cm Dimensions without frame: 44 x 34 cm.
Category

1910s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Large Vase from the Early Production by Upsala-Ekeby, Sweden
Located in Goteborg, SE
Vase decorated in a technique using a colored slurry of clay as the paint. This vase is a very fine, early, example of the production at Upsala-Ekeby, Sweden.
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Swedish Designer, Sauna Stool, Carved Oak, Sweden, Early 20th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A carved oak sauna stool designed and produced in Sweden, early 1900s.
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Oak

Table Lamp by Josef Ekberg
Located in Long Island City, NY
Stoneware table lamp "Sgrafitto" by Josef Ekberg, Gustavsberg, 1918. Existing wiring, rewiring available upon request. Minor chip on edge. Height 11" without socket.
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Simon Gate Glass Vase Model Slöjdansen Produced by Orrefors in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare glass vase model Slöjdansen designed by Simon Gate. Produced by Orrefors in Sweden. Signed Orrefors Gate 109 25 KR (engraver Karl Rössler).
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Simon Gate Glass Vase Produced by Orrefors in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare glass vase designed by Simon Gate. Produced by Orrefors in Sweden.
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Table Lamp by Josef Ekberg
Located in Long Island City, NY
A table lamp by Josef Ekberg for Gustavsberg, "Sgrafitto" series. Signed. Sweden, 1918. Newly rewired. Stoneware base height is 11".
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Vase Designed by Axel Enoch Boman for Reijmyre, Signed and Dated, Sweden, 1917
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase designed by Axel Enoch Boman for Reijmyre, Sweden. 1917. Glass. One-off piece, signed and dated. Dimensions: H: 11 cm/ 4 3/8'' D: 12 cm/ 4 3/4''   
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Salon Table with Stoneware Top by Helge Johansson, 1918
By Helge Johansson
Located in Long Island City, NY
Salon table with stoneware table top designed by Helge Johansson, Sweden, circa 1918.  
Category

1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
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Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
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Brittany Mill Painting, Early 20th Century
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Pair of Elias Svedberg Armchairs for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1940s
Located in The Hague, NL
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Mogens Koch Four Bookcases for Rud Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch four bookcases in pine. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DANMARK.
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Mogens Koch Four Bookcases for Rud Rasmussen
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Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud, Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch two wall-mounted bookcases of mahogany. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DENMARK.
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Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud, Rasmussen
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Mogens Koch Three Bookcases for Rud, Rasmussen
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Mogens Koch three bookcases in mahogany + plinths. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen. The reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/COPENHAGEN/...
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Mogens Koch Three Bookcases for Rud, Rasmussen
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H 29.93 in W 29.93 in D 11.03 in
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Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch three bookcases in mahogany + plinths. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen. The reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/COPENHAGEN/...
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1920s Danish Ceramic Floor Vase by Herman Kähler
Located in Örebro, SE
This is the 1920s Danish 46 cm tall ceramic floor vase by Herman Kähler. It comes in almost mint condition. A globular body with tall tapering...
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Mogens Koch Bookcases in Mahogany for Rud. Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch pair of bookcases in mahogany. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DENMARK.
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Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Mahogany

Early 20th Century Oil Painting Irish Setter Dog in a Stable
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Early 20th Century Oil Painting Irish Setter Dog in a Stable
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Located in Milan, IT
XVIII century Rural scenes (4) Tempera on paper, 20 x 31 cm With 18th century Venetian mirrored frame, 31 x 39 cm.
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Early 20th Century French Framed Sunset in Venice Oil Painting Signed A. Lecoz
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Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a den or living room with this elegant antique painting. Created in France circa 1910, and set in the original carved frame, the large and colorful canvas features the grand canal in Venice. The art work depicts a sunset on the canal with gondola and Venetian palaces on both sides. The painting is signed on the bottom left by French artist Alphonse Lecoz...
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Previously Available Items
Antique Swedish Free Form Hand Carved Wooden Oak Tray Produced Early 1900s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare antique wooden tray / bowl in hand carved oak with some free form details produced in Sweden in the early 1900s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H: 12 cm / 4.75" W: 66...
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1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Oak

1917 Sgraffito Vase by Josef Ekberg
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning large Sgraffito Vase by Josef Ekberg made in 1917 at his studio at Gustavsberg Porcelain Factory, Sweden. Beautiful blue flower decoration agai...
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1910s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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1917 Sgraffito Vase by Josef Ekberg
1917 Sgraffito Vase by Josef Ekberg
H 13 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in
Scandinavian Tapestry
By Scandinavian Authentic Furniture ( SAF )
Located in Glasgow, GB
A fine Norwegian Church Tapestry from 1913 depicting the parable of St Mathew and the ' Wise and Foolish Virgins' This is an iconic image recreated from Medieval Work from the 15th Century. The piece is woven and stiched in local wool and natural dyes. The stiching on the garments decorating the figures is a work of art in itself. It is dated June 1923 and is in very good condition. Many of the original Medieval Tapestries...
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1910s Norwegian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Wool

Scandinavian Tapestry
Scandinavian Tapestry
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H 0.4 in W 44.49 in D 51.19 in
Herman Kähler, Vase, Green And Brown-Glazed Earthenware, Denmark, c. 1910
Located in High Point, NC
A green and brown, glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Herman Kähler, Bornholm, Denmark, c. 1910.   
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1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Earthenware

Herman Kähler, Vase, Glazed Earthenware, Denmark, C. 1910
Located in High Point, NC
A blue, white and brown-glazed earthenware vase, designed and produced by Herman Kähler, Bornholm, Denmark, c. 1910.  
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1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Earthenware

Danish Modern Martin Nyrop Stools Rud Rasmussen for Copenhagen Town Hall, 1905
Located in Odense, DK
Rare and important set of stools in Oregon pine made at cabinetmaker Rud Rasmussen. The stools was made as part of the interior for Copenhagen Town Hall in 1905 which was also design...
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1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Pine

Knud Kyhn Large Unique Ceramic Sculpture, "Struggle For Life", Denmark, 1916
Located in Skanninge, SE
This is one of Knud Kyhn's early masterpieces. This piece is unique and is the only one made! Depicting a bear and a horse in a desperate struggle for life. The sculpture has a bea...
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1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Painting "Danish Sailing Ship", Denmark, Early 20th Century
Located in Chorzów, PL
Painting "Danish Sailing Ship", Denmark, early 20th century. Dimensions with frame: 56 x 42 cm Dimensions without frame: 46 x 32 cm.
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Canvas, Wood

Swedish Craft Collection of Early 20th Century Lidded Boxes, Wood, Marble, 1900s
Located in High Point, NC
An assorted collection of six lidded or decorative boxes in different styles, ranging from antique early 19th-20th century, up until 1960. Each, from tallest to shortest measures ...
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Joel Norborg, Library Table, Oak & Oak, Sweden, 1910
Located in Berlin, DE
Early Scandinavian Modern library table by Swedish architect and designer Joel Norborg. Executed in oak, pine and iron rivets. Hand carved & sculpted rel...
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Acorn by Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Flatware Service 12 Set 134 Pcs Dinner XL
Located in Big Bend, WI
Monumental Acorn by Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Dinner Size Flatware set - 134 pieces including extra large dinner knives and extra large dinner forks. This set includes: 12 extr...
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1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Sterling Silver

Faaborg Chair Designed by Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussen, Denmark, 1914
Located in Stockholm, SE
Mahogany, cane and leather. This example made in the 1950s. Measure: H 73 cm/ 2' 5 1/4'' W 70 cm/2' 4'' D 54,5 cm/ 21 1/2'' SH 45 cm/ 17 3/4'' In the history of Danish ...
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1910s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Furniture

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Leather, Cane, Mahogany

Scandinavian Modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Scandinavian Modern furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, lighting, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Scandinavian Modern furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Hans J. Wegner, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Rörstrand, and Rug & Kilim. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $12 and tops out at $350,000 while the average work can sell for $2,379.

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