Norwegian Design Icons

Not to be missed, Norwegian Icons is an interactive exhibition of iconic Norwegian design from the 1900s, with a primary focus on the era from 1940 to 1975. Organized by Fuglen and hosted by Blomqvist, the exhibition opens in Oslo this Friday, before continuing to both Tokyo and New York during 2013.

A favourite of international style bible Monocle, Fuglen in Oslo, Norway is a curious blend of café, cocktail bar and vintage design store, in which all of the furniture is for sale. Its Tokyo shop, which opened in May 2012, transplants the concept to a backstreet corner not far from Yoyogi Park, in the space formerly occupied by Koz Café. Blomqvist was established in 1870 as one of Scandinavia´s first art dearlers and auctioneers. Today, 140 years later, it is Norways oldest, largest and most profitable actioneer with both traditional and online actions.

Follow the link to read more about the exhibition and to see a selection of our favorite, sadly under appreciated, design icons from Norway:

Kryss Lounge Chair - Designed by Fredrik Kayser in 1956. Produced by Gustav Bahus. (Photo at top)

The intention of ‘Norwegian Icons’ is to raise international awareness of Norway’s contribution to the Scandinavian Mid-Century period. The exhibition will display important designers and their design icons from the period, all of which have been crucial to Norwegian design history. The exhibition will also include work from essential modern artists of the same period. The idea of Norwegian Icons originated after one of the initiators received the sales catalogue for the exhibition ‘Important Nordic Design’, which was held in November 2011 at the auction house of Phillips de Pury & Company in London. Sadly, Norway was not mentioned. Thereby confirming the suspician that historically Norway has been forgotten as an important Scandinavian design nation.