Scandinavian Female Designers

Ulla Fogelklou-Skogh (1913-1986)

Ulla Fogelklou graduated in 1935 after studying to become a silversmith at the University of Arts, Crafts, and Design in Stockholm. As a silversmith, she designed candlesticks and bridal crowns for Swedish churches. However, she did not limit herself to just that material and worked in several different disciplines. For the 1937 World Exposition in Paris, she designed a sundial in cast iron, showcasing her versatility.

Ulla Fogelklou-skogh, Table

She married Svante Skogh, who, for three decades, would be a highly sought-after furniture designer for a significant number of Swedish factories. Together, they ran an interior design firm for a few years in the 1930s. However, after having children, Ulla had to increasingly sacrifice her career.

Ulla Fogelklou-Skogh, table, Swedish Modern © Stockholms Auktionsverk

When the small but forward-thinking furniture manufacturer Firma Möbelstil in Jönköping introduced a small collection of coffee tables, they featured table tops by Ulla Fogelklou-Skogh in reddish-brown limestone. They were produced for several years in two standard sizes with various engraved motifs on the tops. From being relatively inexpensive at auctions, these small and neat tables have garnered increasing interest in recent years.

Marianne Westman (1928-2017)

Few designers have had as much impact on the Swedish kitchen as Marianne Westman. Starting in 1950, she worked for over two decades for the influential porcelain factory Rörstrand and was responsible for several household tableware sets, including Mon Amie and Picknick, which have become Swedish classics. The former also represented a colossal sales success for Rörstrand.

Marianne Westman. Coffee Cups "Red Top", Rörstrand.

In the image, you can see one of her more unusual coffee cups, the Red Top model. It was only produced for a couple of years in the mid-1950s. In the history of design, it finds its place among all the Scandinavian items that were presented in the 1950s with geometric patterns, often executed in black and white. Red Top has long been a sought-after model in Sweden, but it did not follow suit when prices for a large number of Swedish coffee cups surged due to a newfound interest from Asia. Nine cups with saucers were recently auctioned for just over 12,000 SEK at Auktionshuset Thelin & Johansson.

Karin Mobring (1927-2005)

There is a black-and-white photograph where Karin Mobring, with a cigarette in one hand, sits smiling in an IKEA setting alongside colleagues Erik Wørts and Gillis Lundgren. They all look happy, even though their gazes are directed in three different directions. Together, they largely shaped the company's collection during the 1960s. Karin Mobring was the first female furniture designer hired by IKEA. She had a solid education and had worked for a couple of years with Carl Malmsten, the great furniture maestro of the time in Sweden. Her contributions to IKEA would become extensive over the years, and her straightforward design language would be appreciated for several decades.

Mobring. A “Natura” Armchair, Ikea, 1970s.

One of her most popular models today is the Natura armchair, launched in 1976. At that time, pine - as it is today - was in high demand, but even though the wood was strongly associated with Swedish furniture manufacturing, the style leaned more towards Danish carpentry tradition. This particular piece was recently auctioned for just over 8,400 SEK at Stockholms Auktionsverk.