On Wednesday, May 13, we will welcome Steve Swanson, owner of Danish Teak Classics, and design historian Claire Selkurt to our ACC Library Salon Series to discuss the enduring legacy of Scandinavian mid-century design. Postwar American craft and furniture production was largely influenced by designers and philosophies coming out of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland in the early 20th century.

Given the lasting impact of nordic design history, it makes sense that the ACC Library maintains an extensive collection of resources on the subject. Fortunately for us, Selkurt, a longtime collector of rare books and designer catalogs recently donated a large part of her collection to the ACC Library, thus forming the Selkurt Collection of Scandinavian Craft & Design.

From the more than 200 items in the Selkurt Collection, ACC education staff selected a few of their favorites:

The included reference binder for the furniture of designer Hans J. Wegner available through Johannes Hansens Møbelsnedkeri, a Danish furniture maker and supplier, is an amazing resource in the Selkurt Collection. Although he beloved “wishbone” chair, Wegner’s iconic model 501, known simply as “the chair,” is missing, model 540 valet chair, and model 550 “peacock” chair each have individual entries. Less iconic but more interesting are the schematics of available sizes and configurations for "kontormøbler," or office furniture, including desks and conference tables. Perhaps the most charming detail is the wood and leather samples included at the beginning and end of the binder to help the aspiring customer to imagine their custom furniture. ~Perry Price, director of education

Orrefors, the famous Swedish glass company, began as a manufacturer of inkwells, toothpaste jars, and bottle glass. Who knew? This intriguing factoid comes from Orrefors Gallery, 1984 – 1985, a book in the Selkurt Colletion of Scandinavian Craft & Design. The book, a guide to a collection of artistic glass designed by Scandinavian artists exclusively for Orrefors, includes photographs of bowls, plates, sculptures, and vases. Some of the pieces are engraved, some are clear, and others are created using specialized Orrefors techniques. The photographs, many in color, showcase each piece. Additional close-up photos highlight design details. 

This is not a large, lush coffee table book but a small paperback, a friendly format that makes the book seem approachable and invites browsing. ~Maureen Bell, retired librarian/ACC Library volunteer

One of the elements of mid-century Scandinavian design I really appreciate is lighting. Companies such as Louis Pouslen of Copenhagen and AB Ellysett Markaryd of Stockholm worked with some of their country's best designers to craft sleek, simple, and timeless fixtures as innovative as the furniture, ceramics, and glass objects of the time. The Selkurt Collection includes numerous rare catalogs produced by lighting designers from the 1950s to the 1980s. It's fascinating to see how artists envisioned their lamps integrating into the modern homes, and to compare today's designs to those created nearly seventy years ago. ~Jessica Shaykett, librarian

With my background, and "craft-newbie" status, I would have to say that my favorite book in the Selkurt Collection would be Eileene Harrison Beer’s Scandinavian Design: Objects of a Life Style for its comprehensive take on the various craft media of Scandinavia. I appreciate how each section is broken down by medium and country, making the text very clear and easy to follow. It provides a broad spectrum of Scandinavian design examples and history and is a marvelous jumping-off point to further research and exploration. ~Rachel Kirchgasler, education coordinator

If you are in the Twin Cities region, join us at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, to learn more about Scandinavian design history. If you can't make it, stay tuned for an exclusive interview with speakers Steve Swanson and Claire Selkurt.

Presented by the American Craft Council, the Library Salon Series is a series of free public presentations exploring craft, making, and art.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.