Portraits of Scandinavian Designers and Furniture Publishers: 4 Designers You Absolutely Must Know
Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Carl Malmsten… these great names of Scandinavian design are surely familiar to you. But behind the iconic pieces, there are also lesser-known creators whose boldness and talent deserve to be discovered.
In this exclusive article, we shine a spotlight on 4 unique and fascinating designers, each through an emblematic object.
4 objects, 4 universes, 4 stories to discover.
Søren Hansen
Danish craftsman from the early 20th century, he made a mark on modern furniture by co-founding FDB Møbler, a pioneer of democratic design in Denmark.
nanna ditzel
A pioneer of Danish design, she created desks and furniture that combine functionality and elegance, leaving a mark on modern office furniture with her creativity.
Søren Hansen, Danish cabinetmaker and designer, played a key role in the history of furniture design through his work with the family business, Fritz Hansen A/S. The grandson of founder Fritz Hansen, he joined the company before partnering with his brother in 1928.
Throughout his career, Hansen modernized existing models, balancing functionality and aesthetics with a recognizable style blending Art Deco and Scandinavian influences, characterized by wide backs and wooden armrests.
Recently, Norki had the honor of restoring a sofa by this designer, covered in cognac-dyed sheepskin, breathing new life into an iconic piece of 20th-century Danish design.
Nanna Ditzel was one of the leading figures of 20th-century Danish design. Trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts, she began her career collaborating with her first husband, Jørgen Ditzel, creating furniture with organic, functional forms that marked modernist design.
Among her iconic pieces, the Nanna Ditzel desk, in veneered walnut with three drawers, exemplifies her minimalist and elegant approach, combining aesthetics with functionality. Norki recently sourced and restored this desk as a gem, now available in our Megève boutique.
Awarded the Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale and the Danish Design Award, her work continues to inspire contemporary design, testifying to her enduring legacy in Scandinavian design.
Tyra Lundgren
A versatile Swedish artist, she was one of the first women to work at the Orrefors glassworks before collaborating with the Sèvres Manufacture.
oiva parviainen
Finnish architect and designer, he is known for his wooden furniture with clean lines, reflecting the Nordic functionalist aesthetic.
Tyra Lundgren was a versatile Swedish artist, recognized as a painter, ceramicist, glass designer, and author. Trained at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, she worked for prestigious manufacturers such as Rörstrand, Sèvres, Kosta, and Venini, becoming one of the first women to create glass for the latter.
Her ceramic creations, often inspired by wildlife, are distinguished by expressive forms and refined glazes, such as her piece “A Bird Sings at Dawn Among the Large Leaves”, recently acquired and restored by Norki, now exhibited at Norki Gallery Paris.
Oiva Parviainen was a renowned Finnish designer of affordable and elegant furniture. Trained at the Lahti Institute of Design, he collaborated with Lahden Lepokalusto, creating the famous Susanna line, praised for its quality and comfort. He also founded his own studio, Finn-Forms, in 1958.
Among his emblematic creations are the Susanna, Export, Pikku-Linna, and Bella chairs. Norki recently restored one of these Susanna armchairs, covering it with beige-dyed Australian curly lamb, offering a contemporary tribute to this mid-20th-century Finnish design.
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