Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, Arne Hovmand-Olsen created furnishings that boasted all of the alluring qualities now associated with vintage Scandinavian modern design. The esteemed Danish designer favored high-quality teak, oak and rosewood for his sideboards, chairs and dining tables. Elsewhere, Hovmand-Olsen’s side tables and credenzas feature elegant organic curves and tapered legs, while his graceful armchairs and dining chairs are characterized by slender frames and sculptural seat backs.
From an early age Hovmand-Olsen showed an interest in drawing and an aptitude for design. In 1938, he began his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker under Peder Olsen Sibast, the founder of Sibast furniture company. Owing largely to the creative direction of Peder’s son, designer Helge Sibast, during the mid-century era, the manufacturer is internationally revered today for its wide range of sleek and collectible modern furniture.
In 1941, Hovmand-Olsen enrolled in a technical school to study furniture design, and opened his own workshop shortly after graduating. He created a range of furnishings for such notable manufacturers as Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Elven Geertsen and Jutex. He found success in Denmark, but attained even greater notability when he began selling his work in America.
Mid-century-era design from this region of the world — including objects like Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair, Alvar Aalto’s undulating Savoy vase and Tapio Wirkkala’s leaf-shaped birch-laminate tray — took off in the States after the Second World War, when Scandinavia’s simple, curvilinear wooden furniture, home goods and textiles suddenly seemed the perfect foil for glass-and-steel skyscrapers.
Hovmand-Olsen closed his workshop during the 1970s. Today his work is widely collected by enthusiasts of mid-century Scandinavian modern furniture.
Find vintage Arne Hovmand-Olsen seating, tables, storage pieces and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Pair of 3-legged barstools by Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Denmark 1940
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Vienna, AT
Explore our online store and discover an exceptional pairing of two very tall functional stools in the style of milking stools with three legs, designed by Arne Hovmand-Olsen from De...
Beech
Pair of Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold Lounge Chairs
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of Danish modern arm, lounge chairs designed by Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold. Selling and priced as a pair, in origi...
Arne Hovmand-Olsen Dining Chair in Teak
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Arne Hovmand-Olsen for Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, dining chair, model 71, teak, brass, Denmark, 1959 This sculptural dining chair is designed by the Danish designer Arne Hovmand-Olse...
Brass
Seldom Seen Danish Sofa Designed by Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Danish modern sofa (frame) designed by Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold. In original estate condition. Retain original finish, patina showing just the right amount of cosmetic...
Oak, Teak
Danish Modern Sculpted Oak & Teak Arm Chair by Arne-Hovmand Olsen
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Komfort
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Danish Modern sculpted oak & teak arm chair by Arne-Hovmand Olsen. ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringin...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Arne Hovmand-Olsen Mid-Century Danish Wooden Dining Chair
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century Danish wooden dining chair in a curved organic style and functional form with a potato chip seat, standing on domed feet. (ARNE ...
Wood
Arne Hovmand Olsen Black Leather Teak Chair
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Houston, TX
Arne Hovmand-Olsen dining chair, teak, black leather, Denmark, 1960s
Leather, Teak
Rare Arne Hovmand-Olsen Armchair
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Vienna, AT
Extremaly rare Arne Hovmand-Olsen armchair with solid teak frame, seat and headpiece upholstered. Designed in the early 1970s. Marked. Under seat Arne Hov...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Armchair by Arne Hovmand-Olsen, 1960s.
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Jutex
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern teak armchair by Arne Hovmand-Olsen, 1960s. Sculptural Danish Mid-Century Modern chair in solid teak with black leather upholstery. Designed by Danish architect Arne H...
Leather, Teak
A Stool by Arne Hovmand-Olsen
By K. Thomsen
Located in Long Island City, NY
The stool, design by Arne Hovmand-Olsen. Patinated oak stool with semi-circular seat, three round tapered legs. Denmark, circa 1960th
$9,082 / set
H 32.88 in W 27.96 in D 21.66 in
Arne Hovmand-Olsen Armchairs Produced by Onsild Møbelfabrik
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare pair of armchairs designed by Arne Hovmand-Olsen. Produced by Onsild Møbelfabrik for Jutex, Århus in Denmark.
Brass
Eight Arne Hovmand Olsen Black Leather Danish Dining Chairs
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Oakland, CA
Set of eight mid-century dining chairs designed by Arne Hovmand Olsen, Model 75, circa 1955 Denmark. The chairs are crafted of solid teak frames with upholstered backs and exposed br...
Leather, Teak
Arne Hovmand Olsen Set Four Dining Chairs
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of four Arne Hovmand Olsen dining chairs. Frame of partly solid teak. New upholstered with mokka aniline leather.
Leather, Teak
Arne Hovmand-Olsen Bar Stools Produced in Denmark
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare bar stools designed by Arne Hovmand-Olsen. Produced in Denmark. Price listed is / item.
Steel
Sold
H 18.31 in W 18.51 in D 15.16 in
Arne Hovmand-Olsen Teak and Paper Cord Stool for Mogens Kold, Denmark, 1950s
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Utrecht, NL
From Charlotte Perriand to Axel Einar Hjorth, stools have been staples in European design history. Modernist stools like this model, stem from one of the earliest forms of seating, the milking stool. With a highly functional history and modernist look, this stool is a rare and stylish piece. The design is characteristically simple in form with clean lines, organic curves, and tapered legs. Like many of his Danish contemporaries, Hovmand-Olsen favoured the use of high-quality, beautifully grained woods like teak and rosewood. This solid teak stool...
Cord, Papercord, Wood
Arne Hovmand Olsen Occasional Stool
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Arne Hovmand Olsen occasional stool, circa early 1960s. This all original example has three splayed solid beech legs with a hand-carved sculptural s...
Beech
Milking Stool by Arne Hovmand-Olsen
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Birch "milking stool" designed with a sculpted seat and three detachable legs. Stamped "Made in Denmark" Dimensions: 17" overall width, 15" seat width, 15" overall depth, 9.5" sea...
Birch
Mid-Century Black Lacquered Stool
By Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish stool crafted of solid beech wood with sculpted seat raised on three round turned legs in a black gloss lacquer finish.
Beech