Scandinavian Design

Young collectors are searching for the best decorative arts of the 1950s-1980s. The furniture, glass, silver, ceramics, textiles, and even vacuum cleaners and kitchen utensils designed during that period in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland were popular in the United States and are very collectible now. Scandinavian Design by Charlotte and Peter Fiell (Taschen, Los Angeles, $40, c2002, 704 pages) is an important reference for the American collector. It’s filled with hundreds of color photographs and includes detailed information about designers and manufacturers. The book explains how the history and culture of the region influenced the designs created in each country, and how the designs reflected Scandinavian interest in crafts and function. Many of the pieces are still being made. If your local bookstore can’t get the book for you, check online sources.