Scandinavian Design / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
August 26, 2012 – January 27, 2013
Scandinavian Design, drawn from the MFAH collection of decorative arts, showcases furniture, glass, ceramics, metalwork, and lighting from the 1920s to the 1970s. The MFAH first acquired examples of modern Finnish glass in 1954, and in recent years the museum has built on this history by acquiring outstanding objects by architects, designers and manufacturers such as Georg Jensen, Orrefors, Alvar Aalto, Bruno Mathsson, Kaj Franck, Timo Sarpaneva, Tapio Wirkkala, Poul Henningsen, Finn Juhl and Verner Panton.
The objects created by designers active in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway during the 20th century embody a distinctive aesthetic typified by an emphasis on high-quality design distributed widely through mass production. Often Minimalist, and characterized by clean lines, the Scandinavian design movement originated with a 1950s design show that traveled to the United States and Canada to showcase Nordic designers and the “Scandinavian way of living.” Scandinavian design influenced the development of Modernism in North America and Europe, and it continues to shape decorative arts today.
This exhibition is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Generous funding is provided by Dr. Marjorie G. Horning.
Entrance to this exhibition is included with the museum admission. MFAH Members receive free general admission.
CONTACT
Tara Clayton
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
tclayton@mfah.org
Tel. 713.639.7300
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Caroline Wiess Law Building
1001 Bissonnet
Houston, Texas 77005
United States
www.mfah.org
Above: Ida Forss, Sugarfree Necklace, 1999, porcelain and silver, the MFAH, Helen Williams Drutt Collection, gift of the Caroline Wiess Law Foundation.
