We explore nine covetable pieces exhibited at this year’s annual Stockholm Furniture Fair in Sweden.
Since launching in 1951, the Stockholm Furniture Fair has become one of the world’s largest and most influential showcases of furniture, lighting and textiles. Attracting a global audience, the fair captures a Scandinavian design aesthetic, characterised by clean lines, functional design, and an emphasis on natural materials.
After a three-year pause, Stockholm Furniture Fair resumed in February 2023 to continue its work championing the themes of sustainability and circularity within the design industry. The exhibition witnessed the return of heavy-weight Scandinavian brands but was also ripe with exciting, independent talent and notable newcomers.
As Australia’s home of Scandinavian furniture and lighting, Great Dane founder Anton Assad and creative director Megan Marshall travel to Sweden to attend the fair each year, source new products and suppliers, and adopt the Nordic sensibility of life. “When I go to Scandinavia, I pull over on the side of the freeway so I can walk through the forest, smell it, and feel the moss under my feet. It is a sensory experience,” explains founder Anton Assaad.
Great Dane has brought the best of Scandinavian design to our shores for two decades. The retail brand houses classics from masters like Hans J. Wegner and Verner Panton and emerging names from Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Together with Great Dane, we curate nine highlights from this year’s exhibition.
Produced in partnership with Great Dane
Stockholm Furniture Fair saw String Furniture collaborate with architect Anna von Schewen and industrial designer Björn Dahlström on a contemporary interpretation of the iconic Pira G2 shelving system.
Gemla Open chair
Gemla Open chair is a light and comfortable lounge chair designed by Samuel Wilkinson and crafted from solid ash, steam bent by hand. The hand-braided paper cords embrace the soft seat and lumbar cushion in vegetable-tanned leather. Despite the visually light construction, the Gemla Open chair is made to last from highly durable materials.
Folkform x Svenskt Tenn Pleated for Frank Lamp
‘Pleated for Frank’ is a tribute to the classic plissé lampshades that Svenskt Tenn has produced since the 1930s – in patterns pulled from the colourful archives of early 20th-century designer Josef Frank. The Folkform x Svenskt Tenn collaboration saw creative Anna Holmquist and Chandra Ahlsell of Stockholm-based design studio Folkform – who won designer of the year at the Scandinavian Design Awards 2023 during Stockholm Design Week – and historic interiors shop Svenskt Tenn join forces.
Antrei Hatikainen Melt vases
Finnish artist Antrei Hatikainen transforms glass material into unique formations to craft his other-worldly Melt vases. Inspired by the movement and metamorphosis of water, his unique series of vases beautifully capture ice melting and the liquidity of rain.
String Pira Shelf G2
The original Pira shelf was designed in 1954 by Swedish architect Olle Pira (1927-2018) for the iconic H55 design exhibition. Fast forward seventy years, and this year’s Stockholm Furniture Fair saw String Furniture, architect Anna von Schewen and industrial designer Björn Dahlström launch their contemporary interpretation of the iconic shelving system.
Poiat Aqueduct Sofa
Finnish brand Poiat launched the Aqueduct modular sofa at this year’s fair, which combines inspiration from ancient Rome while embracing the modern, softly curved lines associated with Nordic design. Taking its name and sweeping arches from the ancient Roman watercourse system, the Aqueduct was designed by Poiat co-founders Timo Mikkonen and Antti Rouhunkoski.
Gärsnäs House Ronja Chair
The Ronja chair, made by Gärsnäs and designed by David Ericsson, is crafted from the timber of beech forests in southern Sweden. The chair marks the start of a process by Gärsnäs to use more locally sourced raw materials and demands a high standard of design, carpentry, and raw materials. “It is simple, straightforward, and openly displays its construction,” designer David Ericsson says.
Lena Rewell Textiles
The daughter of a textile engineer, Lena Rewell, studied art and textile design in the 1960s, going on to open her Helsinki store that continues to attract tourists from all over the world. Lena drew inspiration for her pieces from her Nordic surroundings including the colours of flower petals, an archipelago, or a local lake. Lena’s daughter Dita inherited her eye for the craft and now runs the famous textile studio.
Motarasu Hokore Pendant
Translating to ‘proud’ in Japanese, the Hokore pendant sees the modern interpretation of a traditional practice. Using nearly 1,000 bamboo strips, Hokore is handcrafted in Japan by artist Tani Toshiyuki through the art of takesensuji; a technique traditionally used to make paper lanterns.
Gemla Holme Pouf
The Gemla Holme pouf is designed by Pierre Sindre and features oversized padding inside a classic, solid ash bentwood frame. The pouf is inspired by the traditional chef’s hat, while the stand is crafted from steam-bent ash.
