THE HOUSE OF MODERNITY The Living Room
The house of modernity Modernity presents a catalogue of carefully curated spaces to showcase where the timeless elegance of vintage Nordic design meets contemporary living. The pieces in our collection were designed by some of the most innovative minds of the twentieth century. It was their belief that design should not just be admired but should be integrated into everyday life. The House of Modernity series displays various home settings that embody the essence of Nordic design – a harmonious blend of simplicity, functionality, and beauty. Each piece of design, while holding its ground as a high-end vintage collectable, has been selected by our team for its ability to create a living space that is both stylish and approachable. Our aim is to demonstrate how these exquisite pieces can bring the warmth and understated luxury of Nordic design to a home. We invite you to explore our collection, where each piece of furniture, lighting, textile, ceramic, and glass tells a unique story of craftsmanship and timeless design that is ready to become a part of your everyday life.
Sofa ‘Utö’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s Stained pine with the original cushion. Provenance: From a private Swedish collection. H: 79 cm / 2’ 7’’ L: 139 cm / 4’ 6 3/4’’ D: 44 cm / 17 1/4’’ SH: 39 cm / 15 1/4’’ SH with the cushion: 45 cm / 17 3/4’’ Price: 36 000 USD From 1927 to 1938, Axel-Einar Hjorth was the chief architect and designer at the department store Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm—which was known as one of the most important producers of modernist furniture in Sweden. Hjorth’s Utö line forms part of his sportstugemöbler (cabin furniture) collection, which was designed for the vaction homes of Nordiska Kompaniet’s affluent clientele in the Swedish Archipelago.
Pair of chairs model ‘Lovö’ designed by Axel-Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s. Pine and textile. H: 81 cm / 2’ 8’’ W: 53 cm / 21’’ D: 47 cm / 18 1/2’’ SH: 47 cm / 18 1/2’’ Price: 66 500 USD for the pair The design of the ‘Lovö’ dining chairs reflects Hjorth’s belief in the harmony between aesthetics and usability. The ergonomic shape of the seats ensures comfort during extended dining sessions, while the carefully proportioned dimensions create a balanced visual composition. The chairs’ connection to nature is evident in their inspiration drawn from the tranquil beauty of the Lovö island in Lake Mälaren, which is reflected in the chairs’ graceful silhouettes reminiscent of the Swedish landscape. These chairs not only encapsulate the design philosophy of the 1930s but also continue to inspire contemporary designers and enthusiasts, testifying to their enduring influence on the world of furniture design.
Cabinet ‘Lovö’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s Pine and forged iron. H: 155 cm / 5’ 1’’ W: 100 cm / 3’ 3 1/4’’ D: 45.5 cm / 18’’ Price: 80 000 USD Hjorth’s designs transitioned from the luxuriousness of neo-classicism to the severity of functionalism, with the Lovö series being far less ornamental and meant for serial production. Hjorth’s work often mixed handicraft with international modernism and was characterized by sharp distinctions in style, materials, and character. The Lovö cabinet was introduced at the spring exhibition at Nordiska Kompaniet in Stockholm in 1932 and was made from black-stained pine with black iron fittings.
Table lamp model 9224 designed by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy, Finland, 1950s Leather and polished and perforated brass. Stamped. H: 55 cm / 21 3/4’’ Shade diameter: 17 cm / 6 3/4’’ W: 18 cm / 7’’ Price: 28 000 USD The table lamp in the image is a rare brass piece, model 9224, also known as the Horseshoe Lamp, designed by Paavo Tynell for Idman Oy in the 1950s. This Scandinavian Modern style lamp is characterized by an adjustable brass shade that can be positioned as needed. The stem is wrapped in leather, adding a touch of elegance and tactile quality. It also features the original manufacturer’s stamp, indicating its authenticity. One of the best loved and most acclaimed Finnish designers – Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) was born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1890. He was an industrial designer, often referred to as ‘the man who illuminated Finland’ through his world-renowned and extremely sought-after work, formed mostly from perforated and polished brass. He was a true pioneer of Nordic lighting design, with his early work proving to be of a functionalist nature during the first stages of his awe-inspiring career. Tynell became the lighting designer of choice for a number of distinguished architects including Aarne Ervi and the remarkable Alvar Aalto. He went on to be the managing director of his own company, Taito Oy, into the late 1930’s. The growing accessibility of electricity during this time meant that more and more private households were looking to install light fixtures; thus, hugely boosting sales for Taito Oy and spreading the word of Tynell’s classical yet charming aesthetic.
Vase designed by Erich and Ingrid Triller for Tobo, Sweden, 1950s Stoneware. Signed. H: 6.5 cm / 2 1/2’’ D: 9.5 cm / 3 3/4’’ Price: 400 USD
Vase ‘Tobo’ designed by Erich and Ingrid Triller, Sweden, 1950s Stoneware. Signed. H: 17 cm/ 6 3/4” D: 12.5 cm/ 5” Price: 1 400 USD
Dish designed by Berndt Friberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1950s Stoneware. Signed. H: 9 cm / 3 1/2” Diameter: 32 cm / 1’ 1/2” Price: 2 200 USD
Berndt Friberg was born in the southern Sweden town of Hoganas. He came from a long line of ceramists, in an area steeped in the tradition of finely crafted pottery. Berndt started working at the nearby Hoganas ceramic factory when he was only 13 years old. Berndt was fortunate to inherit his grandfather’s turntable and to receive training from a talented uncle. He was a quick study, exhibiting innate artistic skill and a strong work ethic. During his 18 years at Hoganas, he became quite an accomplished thrower. In 1934, he was hired by the prestigious Gustavsberg ceramic factory in Stockholm. During his first years at Gustavsberg, Berndt Friberg worked as a thrower for the legendary artistic leader, Wilhelm Kage. Berndt’s arrival was marked by a significant increase in the quality of Kage’s art pieces. Soon enough, he became the undisputed master thrower at Gustavsberg. Through his early career, Friberg wasn’t known for his artistic ambition. His artistic debut wouldn’t come until the age of 42, when he exhibited in Stockholm with other Gustavsberg artists. Berndt Friberg became known as a perfectionist with an eye for delicate, sensuous forms and magnificent glazes. His works ranged in size, from no higher than a few centimeters to large floor vases. The contours were reminiscent of classic styles, including Chinese stoneware from the Song Dynasty. At the age of 52, Friberg had his first solo exhibition in Gothenburg, which was well-received. Even the Swedish King Gustav VI Adolf became an avid collector of Fribergís work, acquiring more than 100 pieces. The demand for Friberg’s work soon eclipsed supply. Berndt Friberg constantly refined his glazes, recording the details in his famous “black book”. Early glazes were often matte delicate hare’s fur glazes. During the 1960s, the glossy glazes “ox blood” and “aniara” became more dominant. Berndt remained at Gustavsberg until his death in 1981, leaving behind a legacy of brilliant ceramic craftmanship.
Rug ‘Ursula’ designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF AB, Sweden, 1935 Hand-woven wool. L: 270 cm/ 8’ 10 3/4 ‘’ W: 164 cm/ 5’ 5’’ Price: 15 500 USD
Set of chairs plus table, anonymous. Sweden, 1950s Solid pine and iron. Dimensions of the table: H: 59 cm/ 23 1/4’’ L: 85 cm/ 33 1/2’’ D: 45 cm/ 17 3/4’’ Price: 5 500 USD for the set
Dimensions of the chairs: H: 76.5 cm/ 30’’ W: 61 cm/ 24’’ D: 60 cm/ 23 1/2’’ Seat height: 37 cm/ 14 1/2’’
Painting by Harry Booström, Sweden, 1954 Oil on panel. Signed. H: 69.2 cm/ 2’ 3 1/2” W: 85 cm/ 2’ 9 3/4” D: 8 cm/ 3” Provenance: William and Maud Appelquist, Gotland. Bel’Art Gallery, Stockholm. Private collection, Stockholm. Price: 7 200 USD
Chest of drawers ‘Flora’ designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1930s Mahogany, oak and hand coloured paper. Exterior covered with paper illustrations from ‘Bilder ur Nordens Flora’ by C. A. Lindman. Provenance: According to the family, this chest of drawers was purchased circa 1940. H: 76 cm / 2’ 6’’ L: 133 cm / 4’ 4 1/4’’ W: 44 cm / 17 1/4’’ Price: 222 000 USD Together with Estrid Ericson and her furnishing company, Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank developed his highly personal style with elements of Viennese elegance and Swedish functionalism. He wanted to incorporate natural forms and colours into his interiors, so that the inhabitants could breathe freely in the enclosed spaces. He believed that “ornament and complexity create peacefulness and get rid of the disturbing aspect of pure functional form.” A perfect example of this ideology is the presented ‘Flora’ chest of drawers. For this project, Frank used hand-coloured botanical paper prints from Carl Lindman’s book ‘Bilder ur Nordens Flora’, which he then delicately applied onto the mahogany front of the piece. The contrast between the delicate floral motifs and heavy wooden form instils the chest with a light, playful and organic sense. Contrasting materials evoke an echo of the past, but create an indisputably modern piece.
Occasional table ‘The Egyptian table’, designed by MOgens Lassen for Rud Rasmussen, Denmark, 1935 Mahogany, foldable frame and top with raised edge, brass fittings. H: 53.5 cm / 21’’ D: 100 cm / 3’ 3 1/8” Price: 18 500 USD
Table lamp model 2468 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s Brass with cotton shades. Stamped. H: 54 cm / 21 1/4’’ W: 42 cm / 16 1/2’’ Shade D: 15 cm / 6’’ Price: 8 500 USD
Pair of armchairs model 789B ‘Captain’s Chair’ designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1938 Mahogany, leather and brass. H: 76.5 cm / 2’ 6” W: 58 cm / 1’ 10 1/4” D: 65 cm / 2’ 1 2/2” SH: 48 cm / 1’ 6 1/4” Arm rest H: 69.5 cm / 2’ 3 3/4” Please note that we have two pairs of ‘Captain’s Chairs’ availble. Price: 7 200 USD for one pair
Rug ‘Nyponblomman’ designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF, Sweden, 1932 Wool. Signed. W: 232 cm / 7’ 7 1/4’’ L: 307 cm / 10’ 1’’ Length with fringes: 326 cm / 10’ 8 1/4’’ Price: 21 500 USD Märta Måås-Fjetterström established her workshop in 1919 in the small coastal town of Båstad, in the southwest of Sweden. Over the course of the next decades, she would become one of the most prominent figures in the history of the Scandinavian textile industry; the woman who took textile into the realm of fine art. By bringing traditional weaving techniques back to life, she produced compelling work of exceptional quality and craftsmanship. The exceptional craftsmanship used in weaving the rugs have long been recognised by people in the industry. Her works merge rural Nordic traditions with modernist trends in an unparalleled way. Increasingly, these rugs are being considered by collectors as genuine works of art. They can be found in many museums such as: The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Louvre, Trondheim’s Museum in Norway, The National Museum (Stockholm), The Röhsska Museum of Design and Decorative Arts (Gothenburg), Nordiska museet (Stockholm) and many others.
Sculpture ‘Rosa’ by Sonja Petterson, Sweden, 2000 Plaster. Signed. H: 38.5 cm / 15 1/4’’ W: 18 cm / 7’’ D: 31 cm / 12 1/4’’ Price: 2 200 USD
MORE WORKS BY SONJA PETTERSON:
Sculpture ‘Lenin’ by Sonja Petterson, Sweden, 2000 Plaster. Signed. H: 32 cm / 12’’ W: 30 cm / 11 3/4’’ D: 45.5 cm /18’’ Price: 2 700 USD
Sculpture designed by Sonja Pettersson, Sweden, 1983 Plaster. Signed. H: 56 cm / 1’ 10” W: 37 cm / 1’ 2 1/2” D: 58 cm / 1’ 10 3/4” Price: 5 000 USD
Floor lamp ‘Bridge’ designed by Severin Hansen Jr. for Haslev Möbler, Denmark, 1950s Beech and plastic shades. H: 165 cm / 5’ 15’ W: 55 cm / 21 3/4’’ Diameter of the shade: 40 cm / 15 3/4’’ Price: 10 500 USD
Lounge chair ‘Pernilla 3’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1944 Laminated birch and paper webbing. Stamped. Provenance: This chair was specially ordered by a customer to adapt to their longer height. H: 90.5 cm / 2’ 11 3/4’’ W: 64 cm / 2’ 1 1/4’’ D: 180 cm / 5’ 11’’ SH: 29 cm / 11 1/2’’ AH: 54.5 cm / 21 1/2’’ Price: 10 500 USD
Rug by Anna-Greta Sjöqvist, Sweden, 1950s Knotted handwoven wool. Signed. Relief pile technique. L: 254 cm / 8’ 4” W: 168 cm / 5’ 6” Price: 16 000 USD
MORE SEATING BY BRUNO MATHSSON:
Chaise longue ‘Pernilla’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1944 Bent birch, solid birch, brass and original paper webbing. Very rare model with wheels. L: 164 cm / 5’ 5’’ W: 58 cm / 22 3/4’’ H: 91 cm / 3’ 1/4’’ AH: 54.5 cm / 21 1/2’’ Price: 14 500 USD
Armchair ‘Eva High’ designed by Bruno Mathsson for Karl Mathsson, Sweden, 1960 Birch framing, braided leather upholstery and a textile neck pillow. Stamped. H: 110 cm / 3’ 7 1/4’’ W: 60 cm / 23 1/2’’ D: 73 cm / 2’ 4 3/4’’ SH: 35 cm / 13 3/4’’ AH: 60 cm / 23 1/2’’ Price: 4 000 USD
Trolley model 900 designed by Alvar Aalto with tile by Fiskars for Artek, Finland, 1946 Birch, tile from Fiskars and rattan. Provenance: Ingvar Norman, Ernst Sundhs Byggnads AB. H: 60 cm / 23 1/2’’ L: 91 cm / 2’ 11 3/4’’ W: 64 cm / 2’ 1 1/4’’ Price: 46 500 USD Alvar Aalto’s trolley model 900 has become a classic piece emblematic of mid-century modern design. The Tea Trolley 900 was initially created for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937 and showcases Aalto’s modernist approach, which was influenced by British tea culture and Japanese woodwork and architecture. The trolley’s design includes a ceramic tile serving tray and a handmade rattan basket for storage. Alvar Aalto is a recognised master of modern architecture and design. His work includes furniture and houseware designs, which evolved organically from his architectural work. Aalto’s singular aesthetic defined Finnish design like no other. Through attention to detail and an innovative use of materials, his pieces achieve a sense of harmony with nature whilst combining functionalism with beauty.
Vase ‘Surrea’ by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1940 Carrara-glazed stoneware. Stamped “GUSTAVSBERG KÅGE”. Provenance: The artist’s own collection. Previously, in the collection of the Gustavsberg museum, as seen on the inventory number on the bottom of the piece. H: 12 3/4’’ D: 17 cm / 6 2/3’’ W: 24 cm / 9 1/2’’ Price: 94 500 USD The ‘Surrea’ vase was made by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg in 1940. The Swede began his career as a painter before becoming Gustavsberg’s artistic director between 1917 and 1949. It was during this time that Kåge developed numerous ceramic designs that were infused with what he had learned from the modern movements in painting and sculpture. The ‘Surrea’ vase, for example, can be seen as a nod to Cubism because of the way the vase is cut in half and attached to the bowl, resulting in one unified form. Acquired from Kåge’s own collection, this vase is one of the most prominent ceramic pieces in our collection.
CONTACT Modernity has galleries in Stockholm and London where clients, both new and returning, are welcome to view our collection of Nordic design collectables. Please find the contact information below.
STOCKHOLM
LONDON
Sibyllegatan 6 114 42 Stockholm Sweden
Newson’s Yard 57 Pimlico Road London SW1W 8NE United Kingdom
Open Hours: Monday–Friday, 12 pm – 5.30 pm Saturday, 11 am – 3 pm +468208025 info@modernity.se
Open Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 am – 6.00 pm Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm +44 (0)20 3931 8937 london@modernity.se