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Scandinavian Modern Vases

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
Andersson Johansson, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown and beige-glazed stoneware vase designed and produced by Andersson & Johansson, Höganäs, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Yellow Stoneware Vase by Marianne Westman for Rorstrand, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful stoneware vase with amazing glaze. Made by Marianne Westman for Rorstrand, Sweden, 1960s. Excellent condition. Incised signature "MW" and "R" för Rörstrand. Marianne W...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced in Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A an off-white and green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Ture Berglund, Vase, Glass, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A blown glass vase designed by Ture Berglund and produced by Skansens Glasbruk, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A beige-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A beige and green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Swedish Designer, Vase, Ceramic, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed ceramic vase designed and produced in Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Börne Augustsson, Vase, Blown Glass, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
An organic blown glass vase designed by Börne Augustsson and produced by Åseda Glasbruk, Sweden, c. 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

Upsala Ekeby, Vases, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beige and orange-glazed earthenware vases designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s. “EKEBY 97” stamp on bottom
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Nittsjö, Vase, Green-Glazed Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A green glazed earthenware vase with floral motifs produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, 1940s. Signed on base.  
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Rare Bengt Edenfalk Skruf Glass Vase
Located in North Miami, FL
A fine and rare stylish vintage Swedish art glass vase designed by Bengt Edenfalk for Skruf Glasbruk. The tall square shaped crystal glass vase has a c...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Crystal

Anna-Lisa Thomson, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A blue and white-glazed earthenware vase designed by Anna-Lisa Thomson and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Greta Runeborg, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A beige and brown-semi-glazed and incised earthenware vase designed by Greta Runeborg and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A black and orange-glazed and incised earthenware vase, designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, c. 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Jerk Werkmäster, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-glazed earthenware vase designed by Jerk Werkmäster and produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, c. 1930s. “NITTSJÖ HAND MADE IN SWEDEN” on bottom
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Bo Fajans, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
An orange and beige-glazed vase designed and produced by Bo Fajans, Sweden, c. 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A white-glazed incised earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Pink / Cerise / White Glass Vase by Paul Kedelv for Flygsfors, Sweden 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Organic shaped glass vase / sculpture designed by Paul Kedelv for Flygsfors, Sweden 1950s (note: no signature at the bottom).
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Richard Manz Sculptural Ceramic Vase with Earthen Colors Scandinavia Modern
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Sculptural ceramic vase made by the German-Swedish-Danish ceramist Richard Manz (1933-1999). The husband of the Danish ceramist Bodil Manz. The rustic al...
Category

1990s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Brown and Blue Floor Vase by Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Malmö, SE
A stunning stoneware floor vase with a beautiful hand carved geometric pattern. Designed by Lisa Larson at Gustavsberg Studio in Sweden, 1960s. Good condition. Some metal marks and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Bo Fajans, Sweden. Large Ceramic Vase in Blue Glaze.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Bo Fajans, Sweden. Large ceramic vase in blue glaze. Handmade. Approx. 1960s. In great condition. A few insignificant production defects where the glaze does not fully cover. M...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Erik Mornils, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A green and brown-glazed earthenware vase designed by Erik Mornils and produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, c. 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Scandinavian vintage carved teak vase, 1960
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Wabi Sabi - Vintage - Decoration Beautiful design jar in carved teak wood. Scandinavian work from the 1960s. Geometrical base and asymmetrical handles with very design lines. Natural...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Wood

Swedish Designer, Vase, Green and Brown-Glazed Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by a Swedish designer, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Marianne Westman, Vase, Grey-Glazed Firesand, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A vase in a grey glazed firesand, designed by Marianne Westman, produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, c. 1965. With signature to underside.  
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Rolf Palm Signed Swedish Midcentury Scandanavian Minature Vase for Mölle Sweden
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful and darkly glazed miniature vase by Swedish master ceramicist/designer Rolf Palm for Mölle, Sweden. This gem features a Classic shape with tiny spines and a rich glaze th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Søholm Shiny Black Glazed Cylinder Stoneware Vase, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Classic and simplistic tubular handmade ceramic Scandinavian midcentury modern vase with shiny black glaze on the exterior and interior. Manufactured on the small Danish of Bornholm ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware, Ceramic

Peter Ipsens Enke, Vase, Stoneware, Denmark, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
An orange yellow glazed stoneware vase designed and produced by Peter Ipsens Enke, Denmark, 1940s.
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Kaj Franck / VASE(Unique Piece) / Nuutajarvi
Located in Shibuya-Ku, JP
Kaj Franck is known for his functional, simple designs that are often referred to as the ‘conscience of Finland’, and his products are characterised by their use of colour without an...
Category

1970s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass

Swedish Modern Floral Fauna Ceramic Vase, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hand-painted Swedish midcentury modern cylinder vase depicting the head of a black and white gazelle among blue, rose, green and yellow wild growing flowers. Sgraffito technique on t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware

White Carrara Vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1930s
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful 'Swedish Modern' stoneware vase with 'Carrara' glaze. Made by Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsberg in Sweden, 1930s. Excellent condition. Impressed 'Gustavsberg / KÅGE / HANDDR...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A fluted grey-glazed earthenware vase, designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, c. 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Lars Larsson, "Seed" Vase, Cream Stoneware, Fågelmara Krukmakeri, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A cream glazed stoneware "Seed" vase designed by Lars Larsson and produced by Fågelmara Krukmakeri, Sweden, 1970s.
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand 1950s Modernist Gray Striped Vases
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rare set of two Scandinavian modern smooth porcelain vases by acclaimed designer Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand and Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden. Light gray glaze with dark gray stripes...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A beige and green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A beige and orange-glazed earthenware vase, designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

"Karneval" Faience vase by Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Faience “Karneval” vase by Stig Lindberg, in a clean cylinder shape. Beautiful, playful motif of a woman riding a horse, a man playing a trumpet on the other side. The rim is unglaze...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Faience

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
An incised green-glazed earthenware vase, designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Set of Vase / Plate "Sarek" by Olle Alberius, Sweden 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of plate & vase from the Sarek serie, designed by Olle Alberius for Rörstrand, Sweden 1960s. Size refers to the vase.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

AB ML, Vase, Pewter, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A pewter vase designed and produced by AB ML, Sweden, 1930s. With personal inscription.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Pewter

Danish Designer, Vase, Earthenware, Denmark, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A white-glazed fluted earthenware vase, designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1940s.
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Rörstrand, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A green and yellow-glazed stoneware vase, designed and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, c. 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Greta Runeborg, Vase, Yellow-Glazed Earthenware, Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A yellow, glazed earthenware vase designed by Greta Runeborg and produced by Upsala-Ekeby, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Vase by Gertrud Lönegren, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1930s
Located in Malmö, SE
Beautiful and rare stoneware vase designed by Gertrud Lönegren. This studio piece was created at Rorstrand in Sweden between 1936-1941. Excellent condition. Impressed 'Rörstrand ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Jerk Werkmäster, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed earthenware vase, designed by Jerk Werkmäster and produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, c. 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Erik Mornils, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed earthenware vase, designed by Erik Mornils and produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, c. 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A fluted green-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Jerk Werkmäster, Vase, Blue-Glazed Earthenware, Nittsjö, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-glazed earthenware vase designed by Jerk Werkmäster and produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

"Karneval" Faience vase by Stig Lindberg, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Faience “Karneval” vase by Stig Lindberg, in a clean cylinder shape. Beautiful, playful motif of a woman with a rooster in her arms on one side, and a bird on the other. The rim is u...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Faience

Upsala Ekeby, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
An orange and beige glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, c. 1930s
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

A Beautiful Vases of Six Colourful Vases by Kaj Franck, KF 245, Nuutajärvi 1957
Located in Helsinki, FI
Kaj Franck designed for the Nuutajärvi factory from 1951 until the 1980s. At the same time he worked as a designer for the Arabia factory. At Nuutajärvi Franck designed art glass obj...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass

Anna-Lisa Thomson, Vase, Earthenware, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A green-glazed earthenware vase designed by Anna-Lisa Thompson, and produced by Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1930s.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Erik Mornils, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A yellow semi-glazed earthenware vase, designed by Erik Mornils and produced by Nittsjö, Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Per Lütken for Holmegaard Duckling Vase, Scandinavian Modern Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Scandinavian Modern vase was designed by Per Lütken for Holmegaard as a part of Duckling series of vases. The vase is hand blown in smoky grey glass and signed and dated on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso

A bronze vase by Ystad-Bronse
Located in Long Island City, NY
A patinated bronze vase by Ystad-bronse. Sweden, Circa 1950th. Engraving on one side.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Bronze

Upsala-Ekeby, Vase, Blue And White Glazed Earthenware, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A blue, white and brown, glazed earthenware vase designed and produced by Upsala-Ekeby, Sweden, 1940s.  
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Brown Stoneware Vase by Erich and Ingrid Triller for Tobo, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Malmö, SE
Beautiful stoneware vase made by master ceramists Erich and Ingrid Triller. This piece was created at their workshop in Tobo, Sweden, 1950’s. Excellent condition. Signed on the base with their customary "Triller Tobo" signature. The ceramists Erich and Ingrid Triller were educated in Germany 1929-32, married in 1934 and moved to Sweden the same year. Together they ran the Tobo stoneware...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Scandinavian Modern vases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Scandinavian Modern vases 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 vases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, stoneware and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Scandinavian Modern vases made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases, popular names associated with this style include Rörstrand, Upsala Ekeby, Gunnar Nylund, and Gustavsberg. 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 vases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $49 and tops out at $20,792 while the average work can sell for $1,110.

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