ANDREW DUNCANSON
Few know more about Scandinavian vintage design than Scottish-born, Stockholm-based gallerist Andrew Duncanson. For more than two decades, his gallery Modernity, now also in London, has earned a reputation as one of the leading sources in northern Europe, emphasising on rare collectible furniture from designers like Hans. J. Wegner, Finn Juhl, and Arne Jacobsen. For Andrew, Danish design is superior, and there are good reasons why.
“When you add vintage to a contemporary piece of furniture, it can work well aesthetically, but it also gives it that little bit of edge and excitement that makes an interior a home instead of just a stage"
"Sweden ended up with Ikea, and Denmark got all the big-name quality brands they still have today."
HOW DID YOU BEGIN COLLECTING VINTAGE FURNITURE?
I had my own company selling contemporary design in Edinburgh, and collecting vintage design was my hobby. When I moved to Sweden, I realised that there was a market for 20th century vintage design, which was my passion. I opened the first shop in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan in 1998. I basically sold my own collection. After two weeks, the shop was half empty. Some people have asked me if it was difficult to switch from being a collector to being a dealer, and the answer is no, I didn’t have time to grieve my losses.
WHAT DOES VINTAGE PIECES ADD TO A MORE CONTEMPORARY DECOR IN A HOME?
Like with anything: If you use just one style, you don’t get the same soul or excitement. Vintage pieces have patina, they have had a life, they have a history. When you add vintage to contemporary furniture, it can work well aesthetically, but it also gives it that little bit of edge and excitement that make an interior a home instead of just a stage.
IN WHICH WAYS DO YOU THINK THAT HANS J. WEGNER STANDS OUT?
He was so incredibly prolific. You just need to look at the depth of his work. And the different styles as well. Wegner was also not afraid to tackle new materials. He used them in a way that was innovative and inventive.
WHAT DOES THE ‘DANISH DESIGN HERITAGE’ MEAN TO YOU?
A lot. We specialise in Nordic design. The Nordic countries are quite different from each other. For different reasons. Sweden had its heyday in the 20s to the early 30s. At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1925, Sweden won 26 or 27 awards. Only France won more. That put Sweden on the map for design. But after the 1930s, Sweden was very socialist, and high-quality design was criticised for being too exclusive and expensive. Swedish design should be for the masses.
Denmark has the Cabinet Makers Guild Exhibitions. Forty years where cabinet makers worked with furniture designers and architects to produce the very best. They were making extremely high-quality pieces, just for the exhibitions. It meant that the quality of both design and craftsmanship was excellent. Sweden ended up with Ikea, and Denmark got all the big-name quality brands they still have today.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT SCANDINAVIAN MODERN DESIGN THAT MAKES THE FURNITURE RELEVANT TODAY?
I think it's got to do with the almost Asian aesthetics of Scandinavian Design. It's minimalistic, but it's also using a high, high quality of craftsmanship. It's not easy to design something that simple. But when it works correctly, then basically it's going to work with anything. The clean lines of Scandinavian design coupled with outstanding manufacturing techniques make it timeless.
