MODERN SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE
Ulf Hård af Segerstad
Ulf Hård af Segerstad: MODERN SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE. Totowa, NJ: Bedminster Press, 1963. First English edition—printed in Stockholm by Nordisk Rotogravyr. Quarto. Blue paper covered boards embossed and decorated in gold. Photo illustrated dust jacket. 131 pp. 18 color illustrations and 88 black and white illustrations. Boards lightly sunned with lower corner mildly pushed. Jacket lightly edgeworn with a chip to rear panel at the spine crown. Interior unmarked and very clean. Out-of-print. A very good copy in a very good dust jacket.
6.25 x 8.25 hardcover book with 131 pages and 18 color illustrations and 88 black and white illustrations. Includes an Index of Producers and Designers. All photographs credit both designer and manufacturer of the represented pieces.
- Four Countries—One Furniture Ideal
- Wood—Past, Present and Future
- Three ways of Looking at Furniture
- Function, Design and Quality
- Furniture Buying Guide
- Scandinavian Homes and their Furnishings
- The Vacation Retreat
- The Modern Movement in Scandinavia
- Designers and Producers
- Index
- Photographers
Producers and Designers include Peder Moos, Poul Kjaerholm, Nordiska Kompaniet, Elias Svedberg, Ingvar Andersson, P. A. Törneman, David Rosén, Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist, Hetha Bengtsson, Rörstrand, Carl-Henry Stålhane, Torsten Dahl, Hans Wegner, Sune Fromell, Oiva Parviainen, Erik Riisager Hansen, Arne Jacobsen, A. P. Stolen, Hans Wegner, Åhe Hermann Olsen, Börge Mogensen, Birgit & Christian Enevoldsen, Palle Pedersen, Erik Andersen, Klingenberg, Århus, Fredericia Stolefabrik, Illum Wikkelsö, Hjörring Möbel & Madrasfabrik, Havemanns Magasin, Lasse Ollinkari, Vuokko Eskolin, Birger Kaipianen, Alvar Aalto, Carl-Gustav Hiort Af Örnas, Puunveisto Oy, Friitala, Kaarina Berg, Haimi Oy, Eila Hiltunen, Alf Sture, Anne-Lise Knutzen, Knut Rumohr, Sönnico A/S, Edv. Wilberg, Hiorth & Östlyngen, Aage Schou, Anne-Lise Aas, Carl Malmsten, Gemla, Sture Anderssen, Pelle Åkerlund, Nanna & Jörgen Ditzel, Kolds Savvaerk, Karl Erik Ekselius, J. O. Carlsson, Josef Frank, Bruno Mathsson, Stig Lönnegren, Lars Larsson, Gösta Engström, Hans Kempe, Lars Ljunglöf, David Sjolinder, Olof Pira, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Kaare Klint, Dux, Mogens Koch, Erik Berglund, Sten Engdal, Johannesdal, Arne Norell, Yngve Ekström, Inger Sarin, Grethe Meyer, Gunnar Eklöf, Sune Fromell, Verner Panton, Dagmar Lodén, Carl-Johan Boman, Ib Kofod-Larsen, Marjatta Metsovaara, Eric Johann, Askon Tehtaat, Elsa Montell-Saarnio, Bertel Gardberg, Eila Hiltunen, Thea Leonhard, Poul Hennigsen, Nesto, Olof Ottelin, Olavi Hänninen, Alfe Sture, Lis Ahlmann, Axel Larsson, Antti Nurmesniemi, Ejner Larsen, A. Bender Madsen, Ole Wanscher, Torbjörn Afdal, Bendt Winge, Fredrik A. Kayser, Bertil Fridhagen, Hans Kempe, Lars Ljunglöf, Svenskt Tenn., Vidar Malsten, Erik Högland, Boda, Kristian Vedel, Stefan Gip, Björn Ianke, Werner West, Kevara Snickeri, Tapio Wirkkala, Lisa Johansson-Pape, among others.
In 1954 the four Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland arranged what proved to be the most important marketing effort ever for Scandinavian design—the monumental exhibition Design in Scandinavia. From 1954 to 1963 Design in Scandinavia toured the United States and Canada. The exhibition was presented in 27 cities, and it was a huge success, initiated by The Danish Society of Arts and Crafts and its sister organizations in the other participating countries.
Based on the success the four countries established what they called the Scandinavian Design Cavalcade, which had a lot of US press coverage as well. In that connection the July 1963 issue of House Beautiful was centered around The Scandinavian Look in U.S. Homes, and it was Denmark and Danish Design in particular that the magazine focussed on. Besides the editorial pages, the numerous ads illustrates that Danish modern furniture was increasingly gaining a stronghold among certain groups of American consumers.
Importers and retail chains like John Stuart Inc., George Tanier, Raynor and Dunbar etc. now sold Danish modern furniture in the US, and by now it was not only hand crafted furniture from the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions but also pieces from industrial furniture producers like Fritz Hansen, Søborg Møbelfabrik, Fredericia Furniture and many others. From the end of the 1950s Danish Department stores and other retailers produced comprehensive brochures and booklets in English with prices in US Dollars presenting Danish Design to American and other tourists.
Without exception, these stores all presented the narrative of Danish modern. “Denmark is known all over the world for its exquisite home furnishing, which are characterized by their outstanding design and superb craftsmanship” the department store Magasin claimed in its brochure “Danish Design.”