Modernity Stockholm

Designer Highlight — Axel Einar Hjorth (1888–1959)

Axel Einar Hjorth was one of the most distinctive figures in Swedish furniture design. Moving from the refined elegance of Swedish Grace and Art Deco toward a more modernist expression, his work captured the changing character of Swedish design during the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1927, Hjorth became chief architect and designer at Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden’s leading luxury department store. Over the following decade, he created furniture and interiors that established his reputation both in Sweden and abroad. His work was showcased at the landmark Stockholm Exhibition of 1930, an event that helped put Swedish modernism on the international stage.

Hjorth’s career extended well beyond Sweden. Among his prestigious commissions were interiors for the Shah of Persia and work for Nordiska Kompaniet’s Paris store, reflecting his growing international reputation.

After leaving Nordiska Kompaniet in 1938, Hjorth continued independently as a designer and architect. Today, his furniture is among the most sought-after examples of Swedish 20th-century design, celebrated for its distinctive combination of sculptural form, craftsmanship, and modernist sophistication.

Selected works :

Bookshelf 'Typenko' designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1931

Cabinet 'Lovö' designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s

Pair of chairs model ‘Lovö’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s

Side table ‘Lovö’ Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s

Dining table model 'O.K' designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1937

Bar cart "Corall" Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth, Sweden, 1930s

A set of four chair model 'Corall' designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1937

Sofa 'Utö' designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden, 1930s

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Swedish Design: Objects and Composition

Selected works shown:

Sculpture 'Bull Terrier' designed by Sonja Petterson, Sweden, 1990s

Table 'No. 16' designed by Carl Hörvik, Sweden, 1930s

Vase designed by Carl Harry Stålhane, Sweden

Armchair designed by Erik Karlström, Sweden, 1960s

Knotted pile rug designed by Margareta Sundbom Eichenholz, Sweden, 1952

Composition by Rune Hagberg, Sweden, 1960s

Framed object by Rune Hagberg, Sweden, 1970s

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Object of the week — Set of ten 'Butterfly' dining chairs designed by Eva Koppel and Nils for Slagelse Møbelværk, Denmark, 1950s

This set of ten “Butterfly” dining chairs designed by Eva and Nils Koppel and produced by Slagelse Møbelværk in Denmark are defined by their sculptural backrests, where two rounded upholstered sections meet in a form that recalls the wings of a butterfly.

Eva and Nils Koppel were Danish architects and designers who played an important role in twentieth-century Scandinavian design. Both trained at the School of Architecture in Copenhagen and worked early in their careers at Alvar Aalto’s studio in Finland. In 1946, they established their own practice in Denmark, designing architecture, furniture, lighting and interiors.

Their work developed from furniture and interior design into larger architectural commissions. In 1956, Nils Koppel was appointed Inspector of Royal Buildings, and in the late 1960s the practice became part of KKE, one of Denmark’s largest architectural firms.

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Highlight from our latest arrivals

— Serving trolley 'Model 900'
Designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek
Sweden, 1940s

This 'Model 900' serving trolley designed by Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto for Artek has a frame in moulded birch, a tiled top in green sourced from Fiskars, a woven rattan basket and large white-painted wheels with rubber tyres.

This version with the green fiskers tiles was by special order only.
The model was designed in 1937 and first presented at the Paris World Exhibition the same year. It developed from Aalto’s earlier Tea Trolley 98 of 1936, with the addition of a rattan basket that made the object more versatile in domestic use.

Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was Finland’s most influential architect and designer. His work helped shape a more organic form of modernism, replacing the harder geometry of early functionalism with natural materials, curved forms and a close attention to human use. Together with Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, he co-founded Artek in 1935 to produce and distribute modern furniture, lighting and interiors.

Artek’s Swedish production was based in Hedemora between 1946 and 1956, where Aalto furniture was made for the Swedish market. Early Swedish-produced examples, such as this trolley, form part of the wider history of Artek’s post-war distribution and the international reception of Aalto’s designs.

Discover the rest of our latest arrivals online.
Follow the link in our bio.

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Playful forms, bold colour and a sense of movement.

Pieces featured:
Floor lamp model G-33 'Grasshopper'
Greta Magnusson-Grossman for Bergboms
Sweden, 1950s

Monkey sculpture
Gunnar Nylund
20th Century

Children’s chair 'Lilla M'
Caroline Schlyter
Sweden, 1990s

Flatweave rug
Brita Grahn
Sweden, 1950s

Hall table
Anonymous
Sweden, 1930s-40s

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Highlight from our latest arrivals

— Set of six 'Cow Horn' chairs 'Model JH-505'
Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen
Denmark, 1952

This set of six ‘Cow Horn’ chairs, model JH-505, designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1952, represents one of his most refined explorations of seating. Executed in solid teak, the chairs are defined by their distinctive, low-sweeping backrests, which extend outward into gently curved arm supports. This horn-like form gives the model its name while also creating a continuous, ergonomic structure that supports the body.

The construction reveals Wegner’s deep understanding of joinery and material. The backrest is carefully shaped and connected to the frame with visible joinery, including finely executed dovetail joints that serve both structural and visual purposes. The tapered legs and restrained proportions contribute to a sense of lightness, while the woven cane seats introduce a contrasting texture that enhances both comfort and breathability.

Produced by Johannes Hansen, one of Denmark’s leading cabinetmakers, the model reflects a level of craftsmanship associated with small-scale, workshop production. The complexity of the design required a high degree of skill, which has contributed to the relative rarity of the model today.

Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007) was a central figure in Danish modern design, known for his ability to unite form, function, and construction in a single gesture. Trained as a cabinetmaker, he developed a design language grounded in the properties of wood and traditional craftsmanship. His collaboration with Johannes Hansen resulted in some of his most technically accomplished works, of which the ‘Cow Horn’ chair remains a notable example.

Discover the rest of our latest arrivals online.
Follow the link in our bio.

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A selection of Nordic design from the 1940s–60s, bringing together works by Poul Hundevad, Eje Ahlgren, Märta Måås-Fjetterström and Wilhelm Kåge.

Selected works shown:

Folding chair designed by Poul Hundevad, Denmark, 1950s

Floor lamp model G-075 designed by Eje Ahlgren for Bergboms, Sweden, 1960s

Rug 'Nyponblomman' designed by Märta Måås-Fjetterström for MMF AB, Sweden, 1940s

Vase 'Farsta' designed by Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsbergs Studio, Sweden, 1948

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Object of the week — Knotted pile rug 'Skögen och älven' designed by Margareta Sundbom Eichenholz for Gävleborgs Läns Hemslöjdsförening, Sweden, 1952

This flossa carpet by Margareta Sundbom-Eichenholz reflects her close relationship with the landscapes of northern Sweden, with 'Skögen och älven' meaning 'The forest and the river' in English. The central field is composed in shifting tones of blue, green and grey, suggesting water, forest shadow and filtered light. Around it, a richly patterned border introduces geometric motifs, circular forms and rhythmic bands.

Woven as a traditional knotted pile, the carpet combines Swedish handicraft techniques with a distinctly modern visual language. Rather than depicting nature directly, Sundbom-Eichenholz translates the atmosphere of the forest into colour, pattern and texture.

Margareta Sundbom-Eichenholz studied at Konstfack in Stockholm around 1950 and developed a practice shaped by both traditional craft and modern textile art. Her work was strongly influenced by the forests of Hälsingland, as well as by her life in northern Uppland and Gästrikland. Active for only a short period before her artistic production ended in 1957, her carpets represent a concentrated and distinctive contribution to Swedish textile design.

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Completed in 1962, the Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters, built for the Finnish forestry and paper company, is one of Alvar Aalto’s most accomplished architectural works. Located on Helsinki’s South Harbour between Katajanokka and Market Square, the building was carefully designed to integrate with the city’s waterfront skyline.

Clad in white Carrara marble, its façade reflects the changing Nordic light and earned the building the nickname "Sugar Cube" (Sokeripala) for its simple cubic form and luminous appearance.

Faithful to his holistic approach to design, Aalto conceived every aspect of the building, from its architecture to its interiors. The furniture, lighting and built-in elements were designed as integral parts of the whole, with bespoke pieces created specifically for the headquarters alongside carefully selected Artek furniture to achieve a harmonious environment.

Today, the Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters remains a defining example of Aalto’s vision, where architecture, furniture and lighting come together as a unified work of design.

Modernity currently has some of the lights designed specifically for the Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in its collection, including the Ceiling Lamp model A203 and the Ceiling Lamp designed by Alvar Aalto for Idman, Finland, 1950s. The collection also includes the iconic Ceiling Lamp “Beehive” model A332, which was used throughout the building.

Explore them on the Modernity website.

Photography credits:
Façade facing the Market Square. Photo: Eino Mäkinen ©️ Alvar Aalto Foundation.
Cabinet. Photo: Maija Holma ©️ Alvar Aalto Foundation.
The interior design included unique objects and standard-produce furniture and light fittings. Photo: Maija Holma ©️ Alvar Aalto Foundation.
Group of seats in that foyer on the Directors' floor. The rug was designed by the textile artist Greta Skogster-Lehtinen.
Photo: Maija Holma ©️ Alvar Aalto Foundation.
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An aquatic imaginary runs through this summer's selection, shapes, materials and textures inspired by the ocean.

Selected works:

Sculpture 'A fish called Matti', Anonymous, Finland, 1980s

Sculpture by Tina Reuterberg, Sweden, 2005

Aloe Vera' sculpture designed by Roland Persson, Sweden, 2005

Bowl 'Il passagio - liten' or 'The passage - small' designed by Inger Sannes, Sweden, 2014

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