J.L. M�llers M�belfabrik On Sale

Family-owned and operated since its inception, furniture manufacturer J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik is known to collectors for its impeccably crafted vintage chairs, dining tables and more. Its production of elegant, built-to-last furniture that favors pared-back functional forms over ornamentation has earned the company an international reputation as a leading manufacturer of Scandinavian modern furniture.

J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik was founded in 1944 by noted furniture designer Niels Otto Møller. Hailed as one of the most influential pioneers of Danish furniture design, Møller trained as a cabinetmaker before going on to study design in his hometown of Åarhus, Denmark. Here he founded J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik and designed his first chair, the aptly named No.1. In 1961, owing to high demand, the company moved their production headquarters to their plant in Højbjerg, Denmark, where they remain to this day. Møller’s company gained renown initially for their dining chairs but eventually became an important name in the manufacture of other household furnishings including armchairs, credenzas and dining room tables.

While J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik streamlined and modernized the production of their furniture over the years, much of their fabrication process still adheres to time-honored traditions. Their furniture is built from sturdy, durable materials such as rosewood and teak (the latter came to define the simple shapes of mid-century modern design). Many of their most iconic designs, including their Model 77 chair, still incorporate handmade features such as woven seats.

Vintage J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik furniture remains as popular today as it was at the height of the mid-century modern period. After Møller’s death in 1982, control of the company was handed down through his family. It is now led by his granddaughter, Kirsten Møller, who strives to uphold her grandfather’s vision. The original designs of Niels Otto Møller, including his legendary Model 78 chair, remain in production today.

Furniture produced by J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik can be found in prestigious institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. The company was awarded the Danish Furniture Industry Prize in 1981.

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik seating, tables and storage cabinets.

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.