DESIGN IN SCANDINAVIA
An Exhibition Of Objects For The Home From Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden
Arne Remlov [Editor], Tapio Wirkkala [Designer]
Oslo: The Organizing Committee for the Exhibition, 1954. Original edition. Text in English. Slim quarto. Photo illustrated yapped wrappers. 125 pp. Fully illustrated with black and white and color photo reproductions. Spine well worn and yapped edges lightly worn and faintly rubbed, but textblock bright, clean and secure, so a nearly very good copy of this historic catalog. Rare.
7.5 x 9.25 softcover exhibition catalog with 125 fully illustrated pages. Includes a 20 page stapled exhibition checklist if you’re into that sort of thing. All pieces are identified by name and manufacturers information concerning finishes. I suspect this information could be useful to some people out there.
Wonderful cover design and layouts by Tapio Wirkkala turn this exhibition catalog into a true work of Scandinavian Design. Highly recommended.
Sections include
- Glass
- Ceramics
- Metal
- Textiles
- Wood
- Furniture
Represented designers and manufacturers include Erik Herløw, Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Nils Landberg, Orrefors, Vicke Lindstrand, Karhula-Iittala, Kosta Glasbruk, Tapio Wirkkala, Herman Bongard, Timo Sarpaneva, Per Lütken, Holmegaard Glas, Jonas Hilde, Willy Johansson, Arne Jon Jutrem, Kaj Franck, Göran Hongell, Gerda Strömberg, Notsjö Glasbruck, Kyllikki Salmenhaara, Toina Muona, Arabia, Wilhelm Kåge, Gustavsberg, C. H. Stålhane, Stig Lindberg, Eva Staehr-Nielsen, Saxbo Stentøj, Axel Salto, Anthony Andersen, Aksel Salto, Arne Lindaas, Aune Siimes, William Knutzen, Rut Bryk, Toini Muona, Birger Kaipiainen, Arthur Percy, Sven Erik Skawonius, Tias Eckhoff, Ebbe Sadolin, A. S. Bing, Kaarina Aho, Nils Thorsson, Arne Korsmo, Tostrup, Grete Korsmo, Sigurd Persson, Henning Koppel, Georg Jensen, Th. Li-Jørgensen, Sigvard Bernadotte, Magus Stephensen, Kay Bojensen, Uhra Simberg-Ehrström, Kaisa Melanton, Dora Jung, Eva Brummer, Rya, Alice Lund, Per-Olof Nyström, Astrid Sampe, David Rosén, Kerstin-Hörlin-Holmqvist, Nordiska Kompaniet, Sissi Bjønnes, Rolf Middleboe, Aage Schou, Nanny Still, Cato Mansrud, Hanna Christie Abramsen, Artek Oy Ab, Birger Dahl, Kaare Klint, Lisa Johansson-Pape, Hans J. Wegner, Bjørn Engø, Eugen Knudsen, Gjermund Barstad, Finn Juhl, Aksel Brüel, Olli Borg, Oy Stockman, Fritz Hansens, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Niels Vodder, Sonna Rosén, Rolf Rastad, Adolf Relling, Axel Larsson, Arne Hiorth, Karl-Johan Boman, and Maerkle Niskala.
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.”