Modernity Stockholm

Modernity Stockholm We are committed to the collection of exceptional pieces of 20th Century Design.

Modernity specializes in curating exceptional 20th Century Design pieces, with a distinct focus on post-war Scandinavian furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, lighting and jewellery. We collect a wide range of design classics and rarities by designers such as Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Alvar Aalto, Axel Salto, Berndt Friberg and many more. After moving from Scotland to Sweden and following a care

er in design retailing, Andrew Duncanson opened Modernity's doors in 1998. In addition to supplying pieces to international collectors and museums, Modernity exhibit regularly at antique and design shows in London, New York and Paris. The gallery is situated on Sibyllegatan in the heart of Stockholm's design district Östermalm. Over the years this showroom has become a meeting place both for local and visiting 20th Century Design enthusiasts. Modernity is a member of the Swedish Art & Antique Association and also of the International Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers CINOA.

Focus — Animals in designA collection of design objects inspired by animals. Each one starts from an animal and turns ...
10/06/2026

Focus — Animals in design

A collection of design objects inspired by animals. Each one starts from an animal and turns it into an object, somewhere between functional use and sculptural form.

Selected works shown:

Sculpture 'Puppy in the world' by Sonja Petterson, Sweden, 2000.

Dish designed by Allan Ebeling, Sweden, 1930

Relief Sculpture 'Lion's Head', Anonymous, Sweden, 1983

Vase model 352 designed by Vicke Lindstrand, Sweden, 1944-48

Sculpture by Hugo Liisberg, Denmark, early 1900s

Rug 'Hästhagen' designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, Sweden, 1923

Vase 'Fiskgraal' designed by Edward Hald for Orrefors, Sweden, 1956

Vase 'Fabula and Ariel' designed by Per B Sundberg for Orrefors, Sweden, 2004

Lynx sculpture designed by Michael Schilkin for Arabia, Finland, 1950s

Lizard sculpture, Anonymous, 1960s

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Object of the week — Unique cabinet designed by Otto Schulz for Boet, Sweden, 1939 This unique cabinet was designed by O...
08/06/2026

Object of the week — Unique cabinet designed by Otto Schulz for Boet, Sweden, 1939

This unique cabinet was designed by Otto Schulz for Boet in 1939. The front is divided into twelve panels, each decorated with an inlaid zodiac sign set against a pale burr wood surface.

The use of zodiac imagery reflects Schulz’s interest in symbolic decoration and the broader fascination with astrology and the occult in 1930s Europe. Rather than following a single stylistic direction, Schulz often combined functionalist structure with classical references, historical motifs and highly personal ornament.

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Designer Highlight — Ib Kofod-Larsen (1921–2003) Ib Kofod-Larsen was a Danish furniture designer known for his refined c...
05/06/2026

Designer Highlight — Ib Kofod-Larsen (1921–2003)

Ib Kofod-Larsen was a Danish furniture designer known for his refined contribution to the Scandinavian Modern movement. Born in Denmark in 1921, he first trained as a cabinetmaker before studying architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. This dual background shaped his distinctive approach to furniture design, combining exceptional craftsmanship with elegant, sculptural forms.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Kofod-Larsen gained international recognition for his refined and timeless creations. Iconic pieces such as the Penguin Chair, Seal Chair, and the celebrated Elizabeth Chair showcase his mastery of proportion, organic lines, and luxurious materials including teak, rosewood, and leather. His work is characterized by a remarkable balance between visual lightness, comfort, and functionality.

Unlike some of his more publicly recognized contemporaries, Kofod-Larsen maintained a relatively discreet career while collaborating with manufacturers across Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Today, his designs are highly appreciated and remain emblematic of the warmth and refinement of mid-century Scandinavian furniture design.

Selected works shown:

Daybed designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen, Denmark, 1950s

Occasional table designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen for Christensen & Larsen
Denmark, 1960s

Pair of 'Elizabeth' armchairs designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen for Christensen & Larsen, Denmark, 1958

Chest of drawers attributed to Ib Kofod-Larsen for Illums Bolighus, Denmark, 1960s

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Design Miami Paris, PAD fair in London and in-house exhibitions at our Pimlico gallery. Modernity’s fall agenda is firm...
03/06/2026

Design Miami Paris, PAD fair in London and in-house exhibitions at our Pimlico gallery. Modernity’s fall agenda is firmed up.

Rune Hagberg & Josef Frank Exhibition
9–30 September 2026 | Modernity London

A unique dialogue between Rune Hagberg’s abstract art and Josef Frank’s vibrant, timeless design. Opening night: 9 September.

PAD London
13–18 October 2026 | London

Modernity returns to London in Mayfair with a curated presentation of exceptional Scandinavian design.

Design Miami Paris
20–25 October 2026 | Paris

Modernity makes its debut at Paris, presenting a refined selection of works at the historic Hôtel de Maisons in Paris’s 7th arrondissement.

"It is with excitement that we will be part of the exceptional design fair in Paris with a strong focus on vintage design in October”, says Modernity’s Andrew Duncanson.

Object of the week — Table mirror attributed to Uno Åhrén for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1920s This table mirror was designed...
01/06/2026

Object of the week — Table mirror attributed to Uno Åhrén for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1920s

This table mirror was designed for Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm, in the late 1920s and produced from around 1929. It appears in the company’s catalogue issued circa 1930 as model no. 466 and was exhibited at the Swedish Art Industry Exhibition in London in 1931. The mirror belongs to the period often described as Swedish Grace, when classical proportion and ornament were combined with emerging functionalist ideas.

The mirror is conceived as a triptych with three hinged mirrored glass panels set on a stepped base. The structure and reverse are executed in pewter, hand engraved with symmetrical vegetal scrollwork and framing borders. The decoration reflects a restrained historicist approach, while the hinged construction allows for practical use as a tabletop mirror. The careful integration of ornament and form is characteristic of Svenskt Tenn’s production during this period.

Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson and quickly established itself as a leading force in Swedish interior design. The firm was known for combining fine craftsmanship with a modern approach to domestic objects and interiors, gaining both national and international recognition and played a defining role in shaping Swedish modernism.

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Designer Highlight — Estrid Ericson (1894-1981)Estrid Ericson was a defining figure in 20th-century Swedish design and t...
29/05/2026

Designer Highlight — Estrid Ericson (1894-1981)

Estrid Ericson was a defining figure in 20th-century Swedish design and the driving force behind Svenskt Tenn, established in Stockholm in 1924. Her ambition was clear from the outset: to elevate Swedish craftsmanship by pairing traditional making techniques with a more contemporary visual language that felt refined, functional, and culturally confident.

In the company’s early years, Ericson’s most influential work came through pewter. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, she developed a distinctive body of pewter objects : vases, trays, and decorative vessels, that helped define Svenskt Tenn’s identity. These pieces balanced restraint with ornament in a way that felt modern without abandoning craft heritage.

What sets Ericson apart is how closely she worked with design development. She was not just a founder or curator of taste; she actively shaped models, guided proportions, and refined objects so they aligned with her vision of clarity and elegance. Her approach consistently favored simplicity of form, but never at the expense of richness in surface or feeling.

Her collaboration with Austrian architect and designer Josef Frank later became central to Svenskt Tenn’s evolution, expanding the company’s language into expressive patterns, bold color, and organic forms. This partnership ultimately shifted Svenskt Tenn from a purveyor of refined objects into a broader interior design philosophy.

Today, Ericson’s legacy sits at the intersection of craft and modern design thinking. Her work helped establish Stockholm as an important node in Scandinavian design history, and Svenskt Tenn remains one of its most recognisable design institutions.

Selected works shown:

Mirror model A 2492 designed by Estrid Ericson for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1957

Pewter jar with lid designed by Estrid Ericson for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1930

Vase designed by Estrid Ericson for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1928.

Necklace 'Etrurian' designed by Estrid Ericson for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1940s

Brooch designed by Estrid Ericson, 1950s/60s.

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Object of the week — A pair of wall lamps 'Model 6200' designed by Paavo Tynell, Finland, 1950s A pair of wall lamps, mo...
25/05/2026

Object of the week — A pair of wall lamps 'Model 6200' designed by Paavo Tynell, Finland, 1950s

A pair of wall lamps, model 6200, designed by Paavo Tynell and produced in Finland during the 1950s. Executed in brass, the lamps have a tall rectangular form with softly rounded corners and perforated star motifs across the front and sides. The perforations diffuse the light and are a recurring feature in several of Tynell’s best-known lighting designs from the period. Narrow ventilation slots at the base emphasise the lamps’ vertical proportions while serving a practical function.

Model 6200 was produced during a period when Tynell collaborated closely with architects and public interiors in Finland and abroad. In contrast to his more elaborate chandeliers and ceiling fixtures, this model demonstrates a more restrained and architectural approach, reflecting the influence of mid-century modern interiors of the post-war period. The pared-back geometry is balanced by the warmth of the brass and the decorative punched detailing, which softens the overall appearance.

Model 6200 illustrates Tynell’s ability to combine functional lighting with subtle ornamental detail in a distinctly Nordic modern idiom.

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Designer Highlight — Carl Malmsten (1888-1972)Carl Malmsten was a prominent Swedish furniture designer, architect and ed...
22/05/2026

Designer Highlight — Carl Malmsten (1888-1972)

Carl Malmsten was a prominent Swedish furniture designer, architect and educator whose work stands as a cornerstone of twentieth-century Scandinavian craft. Deeply devoted to traditional Swedish craftsmanship, known as slöjd, Malmsten championed handcraftsmanship, natural materials and a humanistic approach to interior environments. His philosophy placed emotional warmth and domestic harmony above the ideals of industrial standardisation.

Malmsten was a vocal opponent of functionalism. He believed that the modernist push for efficiency risked diminishing the home’s cultural and emotional significance. For him, the home was not a machine for living but an intimate space for gathering, rest and continuity. This conviction guided a career defined by organic forms, tactile surfaces and a reverence for Nordic landscape and folk tradition.

Throughout his life, Malmsten collaborated with Sweden’s best cabinetmakers and established his own craft schools to ensure the transmission of woodworking knowledge to future generations. Many of his designs, including the “Samsas”, “Vagabond” and “Krogen” chairs, remain influential for their comfort, balance and poetic simplicity.

Carl Malmsten’s legacy endures as one of the most important voices in Swedish design history, celebrated for elevating craftsmanship, nurturing a national design identity and resisting the impersonal qualities of mass production.

Selected works shown:

Daybed designed by Carl Malmsten, Sweden, 1917

Dining table 'Pyramid' designed by Carl Malmsten for J.O Carlsson, Sweden, 1940s

Armchair designed by Carl Malmsten for the Grand Hotel Stockholm, for the Weapon Salon
Sweden, 1920s

Tabouret designed by Carl Malmsten for the Grand Hotel Stockholm, Sweden, 1920s

Crib designed by Carl Malmsten, Sweden, 1924

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Today is the last day of TEFAF New York 2026, we will be at Booth 364 until 6pm this evening. Come join us at the Park A...
19/05/2026

Today is the last day of TEFAF New York 2026, we will be at Booth 364 until 6pm this evening. Come join us at the Park Avenue Armory for a final look!

The legendary Chieftain Chair by Finn Juhl is on display now at TEFAF New York. Complimented here with a Märta Måås-Fjet...
18/05/2026

The legendary Chieftain Chair by Finn Juhl is on display now at TEFAF New York. Complimented here with a Märta Måås-Fjetterström rug and Lisa Johansson-Pape lamp.

Come visit us at the Park Avenue Armory at Booth 364 to see these wonderful pieces in person.

Adress

Sibyllegatan 6
Stockholm
11442

Öppettider

Måndag 12:00 - 17:30
Tisdag 12:00 - 17:30
Onsdag 12:00 - 17:30
Torsdag 12:00 - 17:30
Fredag 12:00 - 17:30
Lördag 11:00 - 15:00

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