Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Aksel Bender Madsen created a number of classic mid century designs in the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, often working jointly with his business partner and friend Ejner Larsen (1917–87). Bender Madsen trained as a cabinetmaker before spending four years studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1940. It was there that he met his lifelong friend Larsen, with whom he would work throughout his career. They designed over 300 pieces of furniture together until Larsen’s death in 1987, often working with cabinetmaker Willy Beck, who produced their designs over a 25-year period. Larsen and Bender Madsen participated annually in the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild competitions from 1947, and their work was exhibited at the Triennale di Milano and in the Design in Scandinavia exhibition, which traveled across the US. from 1954 to 1957. Larsen and Bender Madsen’s most famous design, namely the Metropolitan Chair, was developed in 1949 and produced from 1950; its name came from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was shown and acquired for the Arts of Denmark exhibition in 1960–61. Before he began working with Larsen, Bender Madsen worked for Danish icons Kaare Klint and Arne Jacobsen from 1940 to 1943. While designing furniture, he also worked simultaneously as an architect for the Danish Consumers Cooperative Society (1943–50) and as a teacher and principal at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1950–54). Bender Madsen was committed to building the Danish design identity and exporting Scandinavian style. He introduced a clear Danish aesthetic to the Dutch brand Bovenkamp in the 1950s and 1960s, who also worked with Arne Vodder. Bender Madsen designs for Bovenkamp feature many models of easy chairs and armchairs, including the low-backed Edith and the high-backed Karen (circa 1950). Together Bender Madsen and Larsen received many awards, including winning the prestigious Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Annual Prize in 1956 and 1961. Their furniture is housed in museums around the world, including the aforementioned Met Museum and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark.
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Teak
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Oak, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Rush, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Rush, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Papercord, Teak
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Mahogany, Rosewood
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Mirror, Teak
1950s Dutch Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Upholstery, Oak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Wood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Wicker, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Upholstery, Velvet, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Wood
1960s Dutch Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Faux Leather, Wood
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Rosewood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century Dutch Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Oak, Teak
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Upholstery, Fabric, Oak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Upholstery, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Cane, Lacquer
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Plywood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Chrome
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Teak
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Rosewood, Teak
1940s Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Teak
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Steel
1950s Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Cane, Oak
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Fabric, Teak
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Oak, Teak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Leather, Rosewood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Aksel Bender Madsen Furniture
Rosewood, Leather