Swedish designer-siblings Uno Kristiansson and Östen Kristiansson are best known to collectors of vintage furniture for their imaginative lighting and mirrors. As partners, Uno & Östen Kristiansson united high-quality, practical Scandinavian modern design with fresh innovation.
Uno and Östen Kristiansson were born in southern Sweden. Their father was a furniture maker who owned a workshop — Vittsjo — that was named for the village in which it was located. In 1950, Uno opened his workshop in the same village. He called his company Luxus and brought his younger brother Östen on board as a designer and builder.
Like lots of designers of the era, the Kristianssons favored traditional teak wood but also employed more forward-looking materials such as glass, acrylic, leather and plastic. While their work spoke to the organic forms and craftsmanship that is typical of many Scandinavian modern designers, the brothers created minimalist oak mirrors and shapely pine wall lights — which often featured an integration of rattan — that set them apart from other artisans in their field.
Around 1966, Östen took over their father’s workshop and renamed it Östen Kristiansson AB. He eventually returned the company’s name to Vittsjo.
After 1970, Uno and Östen Kristiansson focused primarily on lamps and mirrors. They designed most of these works in acrylic, and wood became more of a secondary material in their composition. Collectors and interior designers continue to prize the many inventive furnishings they produced.
Find vintage Uno & Östen Kristiansson table lamps, wall lights and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Teak and Acrylic Table Lamps by Uno & Östen Kristiansson, Sweden, 1960
By Luxus Vittsjö, Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of simple table lamps designed by Uno & Östen Kristiansson for their own company Luxus. Manufactured at Vittsjö in Sweden during the the late 1950s, early 1960s. Made from a...
Acrylic, Teak
Teak & Acrylic Wall Lamps by Luxus, Sweden, Set of 4
By Luxus Vittsjö, Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Set of wall sconces designed by the Swedish brothers Uno & Östen Kristiansson for their own company Luxus. Manufactured at Vittsjö in Sweden during the late 1950s / 1960s. The wall l...
Acrylic, Teak
Pair of Raketen Table Lamps by Luxus, Sweden, 1960s
By Uno & Östen Kristiansson, Luxus Vittsjö
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of rocket shape "raketen" table lamps model B129 designed by the brothers Unö & Östen Kristiansson for their own company Luxus. Manufactured at Vittsjö in Sweden during the 1960...
Acrylic, Oak
Pair of Dark Wood & Acrylic Rocket Table Lamps by Luxus, Sweden, 1960s
By Uno Kristiansson, Luxus Vittsjö, Östen Kristiansson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Pair of rocket shaped "raketen" table lamps model B129 designed by the brothers Unö & Östen Kristiansson for their own company Luxus. Manufactured at Vittsjö in Sweden during the 196...
Acrylic, Wood
Raketen Table Lamp by Luxus, Sweden, 1960s
By Luxus Vittsjö, Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Rocket shape table lamp model B129 designed by Unö & Östen Kristiansson for their own company Luxus. Manufactured at Vittsjö in Sweden during the 1960s. The lamp is made from solid ...
Acrylic, Oak
Rocket Table Lamp by Luxus, Sweden, 1960s
By Uno Kristiansson, Luxus Vittsjö, Östen Kristiansson
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Rocket shape table lamp model B129 designed by Unö & Östen Kristiansson for their own company Luxus. Manufactured at Vittsjö in Sweden during the 1960s. The lamp is made from dark wo...
Acrylic, Wood
Uno & Östen Kristiansson 2 Teak Sconces for Luxus Sweden 1960
By Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Paris, IDF
Uno & Osten Kristiansson a pair of teak and acrylic sconces wall lights Luxus. Vittsio. Sweden 1960 Good condition, Electrical function not tested The designer brothers Uno & Östen Kristiansson are known for their lighting and mirrors and were particularly active from 1950 to 1970 in Sweden. They were prolific designers with a clear design aesthetic, easily identifiable as "Scandinavian Modern". Although there is little biographical information about the duo, their work is highly regarded by vintage enthusiasts and is in high demand on the vintage market today. In 1950, Uno Kristiansson founded his own factory, Luxus, also located in Vittsjö. There he produced indoor and outdoor lamps, furniture and mirrors, designed by the two brothers. Their collections were launched in Sweden and throughout Europe in 1950. In 1968, Luxus introduced a collection of lamps with brightly colored shades that perfectly captured the spirit of the 1960s. They are said to have been designed by the renowned Finnish textile...
Teak, Acrylic
Uno Kristiansson, Wall Lights, Oak, Acrylic, Brass, Sweden, 1960s
By Luxus Vittsjö, Uno Kristiansson
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of oak, acrylic and brass wall lights designed by Uno and Östen Kristiansson and produced by Luxus, Sweden, c. 1960s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 21.75” H x 4” W x 4.875” D ...
Brass
Teak and Acrylic Wall Sconces by Luxus
By Luxus of Sweden
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Wall sconces made of an L shaped teak backplate that also support a cylindrical acrylic shade, diffusing the light of one light bulb. Thanks to a notch ...
Acrylic, Teak
Teak and Glass Wall Sconces Light by Uno & Östen Kristiansson for Luxus, Sweden
By Luxus Vittsjö, Uno & Östen Kristiansson
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: wall light Producer: Luxus Vittsjö, Sweden DESIGN: Uno & Östen Kristiansson Origin: Sweden Age: 1960s Description: This fa...
Glass, Teak
Uno Kristiansson, Wall Lights, Pine, Acrylic, Sweden, 1970s
By Uno Kristiansson, Luxus Vittsjö
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of stained pine and acrylic wall lights designed by Uno and Östen Kristiansson and produced by Luxus, Vittsjö, Sweden, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 16.5” H x 7.5” W x...
Acrylic, Pine
Sconces Teak and Glass anonymous pair Sweden 1960
Located in Paris, IDF
A pair of Sconces Teak and white Glass anonymous Sweden 1960 Probably custom made for a project around 1960,s Good condition
Glass, Teak
