Introducing NORDICMODERN - Vibeke Klint Rug Design & Weaving Legacy

We are pleased to introduce NORDICMODERN at 313 Design Market, a collection rooted in the legacy of Vibeke Klint (1927-2019), a major figure in Danish textile art. Through her graphic rugs, textiles, and architectural commissions, Klint left a lasting mark on the field and influenced generations of weavers through her weaving room in Taarbæk

Vibeke Klint’s career began under the guidance of weaving pioneer Gerda Henning, who taught at the Arts and Crafts School connected to the Art Industry Museum in Copenhagen. Before leaving in 1949, Klint was already connected to Henning’s workshop. After Gerda Henning’s unexpected death in 1951, Klint was invited to return from France, where she had been studying French tapestry techniques, to take over the weaving room in Denmark.

NORDICMODERN brings her designs forward through a reintroduction of the weaving methods, patterns, and visual language that defined her work. Each rug carries its own story, shaped by the place and purpose for which it was originally created, whether for a private residence or a public commission.

Through the Henning family, Vibeke Klint met her future husband, landscape architect Morten Klint, the son of architect Kaare Klint. In 1957, the family moved into their home in Taarbæk, which became both a private residence and the base for Klint’s weaving studio. She continued working there with her team of weavers until 2008. Many who passed through the workshop remembered it as a place of discipline, collaboration, and warmth, which helps explain why so many maintained ties to it long after their studies ended. 

The scale of Klint’s contribution is remarkable. Her work included one-of-a-kind carpets, home textiles, and site-specific commissions created for meeting rooms and important buildings such as embassies, ministries, churches, and concert halls. Across all of it, there was a clear consistency in her approach: exact proportions, independent colour choices, and a strong connection between material, surface, and space. 

What continues to distinguish her work is the way it bridges craft and architecture. Her rugs are grounded in simple geometry, sharp angles, and clean linear forms, with colours that may be emphasized, softened, or subtly shifted. There is a restraint to the work, but also conviction. Her designs demonstrate how minimal means can still create depth, rhythm, and lasting visual presence.  

"The woven rug must be both flexible, firm and dense, so when it gets walked on, it will become prettier and prettier. You should rather not be upset that carpet is worn, but instead they rejoice and discover the new color experiences stored in the yarns and which appear in connection with the wear. "- Vibeke Klint

"My woven designs are primarily made for walking on. I'm not trying to convey an artistic message through my designs, it is their decorative effect that matters. I don't feel stepped on because you walk on the rugs, that is what they are meant for. "- Vibeke Klint

That same philosophy is part of what makes the collection feel so relevant today. Klint believed rugs were made to be used and appreciated through wear, with time revealing new colour and character within the yarns. Her work was never about preciousness for its own sake. It was about utility, durability, and decorative effect, approached with seriousness and clarity.

Over the course of her career, Vibeke Klint received significant recognition, including a silver medal at the Milan Triennial in 1954, the Lunning Prize in 1960, the Eckersberg Medal in 1972, and appointment as Knight of Dannebrog in 2000. 

At 313 Design Market, we are drawn to collections that bring history, craftsmanship, and design integrity into the present. NORDICMODERN does exactly that. It offers a rare opportunity to live with work shaped by one of Denmark’s most important textile voices, now thoughtfully reintroduced for contemporary interiors.

Currently, all rugs are available by special order and ship from Denmark, with a couple of pieces on display in our showroom along with samples of all styles.

Explore the NORDICMODERN Collection