This month, Nordic Watchlist brings you something a bit special – a celebration of Nordic design heroes. We review the recent re-issues, special editions (and a never seen before item) from the likes of Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Jørn Utzon and Hans-Agne Jakobsson. Here is our Nordic Home & Design Update – April 2024 edition.
The Aalto Foldable Table
Designed by Alvar Aalto in 1933, the Aalto Foldable Table has just made a very welcome return. Produced by Finnish design company Artek, the foldable table is available in three table top options: easy-to-clean hard-wearing laminate, birch veneer, and for true retro appeal – linoleum. Three limited two-tone linoleum editions have also been produced: clay/walnut, pistachio/olive and vapour/smoky blue. These are lovely mid-century Nordic colour combinations. And the table matches perfectly with Alvar Aalto classic chairs and timeless three-legged stools.
Arne Jacobsen’s AJ Trolley
And now onto our second design classic. Fritz Hansen has just released a walnut veneer version of Arne Jacobsen’s AJ Trolley. Designed for his own personal use in 1955, the heritage piece has a wonderful triangular shape and has all the functional details and materials that have made Jacobsen’s so popular. The Danish designer was very much a pioneer of merging functionality with beautiful design and intricate details. Originally designed for Jacobsen’s tea, this versatile piece can be used as a stylish bar, serving trolley, or as an elegant side table. It’s crafted with a brushed steel base and walnut veneer tabletop.
The Utzon Stool
Next is another Danish design legend – Jørn Utzon. Famous for designing the Sydney Opera House, Utzon created beautiful lighting and furniture alongside his iconic buildings. One such piece is the Utzon Stool, which has just been released by Fritz Hansen. The multi-faceted stool embodies Utzon’s true originality, love of nature and sculptural approach. The designer actually produced the prototype of the stool in the 1950s while working on the Opera House, and you can see echoes of the building design in its mushroom-like forms.
Hans-Agne Jakobsson’s Tratten light
And now over to Sweden for our next design classic. Hans-Agne Jakobsson was a prolific lighting designer and his many pendants, table and floor lights still grace houses and apartments all over Sweden. Örsjö has just released an LED version of Jakobsson’s 1960s design classic Tratten. The pendant comes in two sizes with the same dimensions and design of the original light. Hans-Agne Jakobsson’s lighting is characterised by materials and shapes that make light gentle and easy on the eyes. He very much favoured copper and brass, which develops a beautiful patina with age.
Børge Mogensen’s Table Bench
Børge Mogensen was a true master craftsman. Carl Hansen & Søn has just released a paper cord version of Mogensen’s Table Bench. The is a new interpretation of Mogensen’s classic minimalist bench from 1958. It was part of the Danish designer’s ‘building furniture concept’, which advocated building multifunctional durable furniture. The design is characterised by its understated elegance, with the solid oak form softened by rounded edges. It takes a craftsman six hours to weave 335 meters of paper cord using a double-plane weaving technique to complete the new version of the Table Bench. It’s available in both long and short versions.
Finn Juhl’s Chieftain Chair
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of Finn Juhl’s Chieftain Chair, the House of Finn Juhl is launching an exclusive, limited edition in smoked oak. The special edition of the iconic masterpiece is limited to 366 chairs worldwide – each engraved with individual dates in the special leap year of the anniversary. The inspiration for the limited edition of the chair comes from a unique Finn Juhl watercolour which was recently rediscovered. A hand-dated and numbered edition of this exact drawing will accompany each of the anniversary chairs. And, this special edition will come with a new book ‘Lost Danish Treasure’ about the chair, written by the American architect and author Carl J. D’Silva. The book provides in-depth insights into the Chieftain Chair’s history, development and significance for Danish design.
Josef Frank’s Stockholm Cabinet
And on to another special anniversary edition from a much-loved designer. This time Sweden’s Josef Frank and a limited of his Stockholm Cabinet. Just 100 of these are being produced to celebrate the 100-years jubilee of Svenskt Tenn. The cabinet was originally designed between 1930 – 1950 and Frank’s sketch indicates that it should be upholstered with paper. Inspired by the different map cabinets that Josef Frank designed during his career, this jubilee edition features an antique map of Stockholm drawn by lithographer Heinrich Neuhaus in 1875. One of Josef Frank’s signatures was combining dissimilar materials when designing cabinets. He would mix diverse kinds of wood and often used paper, fabric, maps or posters to decorate his furniture designs. The mention of this cabinet is really just for interest, as the price tag is a whopping SEK 500,000 (approx. £37,000).
The Masters | A Tradition of Craftsmanship exhibition
And if you still have appetite for some more Nordic design classics, and happen to be in Copenhagen over the next couple of weeks, then check out ‘The Masters | A Tradition of Craftsmanship’ exhibition at the Dansk Møbelkunst Gallery. The exhibition features a variety of exquisite pieces from classic designers, and explores the distinctive approach of Danish furniture making the in the 20th Century – the close collaboration between architects and craftsmen “striving towards the perfect harmony of workmanship, form and function”. The exhibition runs until 26 April.
Enjoying our new design features? Leave us a comment below.
