Scandinavian Modern: Behind the Scenes by James Vaux
The March lecture from The Arts Society South West London
Pair of Orkidea vases by Finnish Designer, Timo Sarpaneva in Dansk Møbelkunst Gallery, Copenhagen (left). The “Chieftain” chair, 1949, by Danish designer, Finn Juhl, in his house at Ordrupsgaard Museum (right)
February 21, 2025
The next lecture to be presented by The Arts Society South West London will be a talk by James Vaux with the subject ‘Scandinavian Modern: Behind the Scenes’.
He will examine the reasons Scandinavian Modern design became so popular internationally in the Mid-Century and how the movement came about.
Using examples of furniture, glass, ceramics, textiles and architecture from 1930 to 1960, including the works of the Aaltos, Wirkkala, Jacobsen, Juhl, Matthson, Lindstrand, Frank and Sampe, he’ll show how Nordic designers broke away from Bauhaus, to create more organic and curvaceous forms. But how did these supposedly affordable products turn into covetable luxury items? The talk ends with the legacy of Scandinavian Modern…and how to spot its influence in IKEA even today.
James Vaux is a researcher and lecturer specialising in Nordic arts, culture, design, and history. An Oxford graduate, he worked in the City in law and banking. As a managing director of Rothschild, he ran its Nordic operations, living and working in Scandinavia. James holds an MA from UCL in Scandinavian culture and history. He also studied interior design / art history at the Inchbald School and Mid-Century Modern at Sotheby’s Institute.
The talk takes place at 8pm on Monday 10 March at The Community Church, Werter Road, Putney, (SW15 2LL) and can also be joined live by Zoom.
The talk is free for members of the society and non-members are asked to make a donation of £10 on entry.
If you have never attended an Arts Society lecture before you are urged to join and find out about your local Arts Society. Visit the society’s website for further details.
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