Skip to main content

Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Danish, 1907-1989

A powerhouse duo in Danish furniture design throughout the mid-20th century, Henry Hans Schubell and Arnold Madsen collaborated as Madsen & Schubell with Dutch company Bovenkamp and Vik & Blindheim on a range of furnishings and created memorable lounge chairsarmchairs and other seating throughout the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s — such as the wingback Pragh chair and the iconic Clam chair — that represent the finest of Scandinavian modern design.

In 1944, a skilled upholster by the name of Arnold Madsen requested assistance from a cabinetmaker to make a prototype lounge chair based on a plaster model he’d made. Accepting the challenge, Schubell impressed Madsen to the point that he suggested they enter into a partnership. The Clam chair was their first collaboration as Madsen & Schubell.

According to Aaron FitzGerald, of Dagmar gallery, Madsen’s Clam chair is “one of the most sought-after and simultaneously misattributed and copied chair designs of the twentieth century.” In the past, it was ascribed to the Norwegian retailer Martin Olsen and then the Danish architect Philip Arctander. It was only through some dogged research by a team of international design historians and collectors that it was finally correctly associated with Madsen.

In the backyard of a modest home in Copenhagen, Schubell built wooden frames which Madsen then upholstered. They sold their finished products to dealers under their joint name, earning enough money to move production to a factory outside the city. Some models, such as the Clam, were under license by Norwegian company Vik & Blindheim while others were manufactured by Bovenkamp in the Netherlands. The pair’s partnership ended in 1963 in order for the designers to establish separate companies. Madsen opened a new upholstery firm with his son, Ib Madsen, under the name Madsen og Schubell, and Schubell continued to build frames for Madsen as Schubell & Son. (At some point, Ib also traded under the name Ib Madsen and Acton Schubell.)

Vintage Madsen & Schubell chairs offer sturdy build quality and the kind of superior upholstery that is typical among mid-century Scandinavian furniture. Working with a range of woods including teak, rosewood and birch, Madsen & Schubell accented natural wood grains with soft lambswool and sheepskin for a variety of comfortable seating.

Find vintage Arnold Madsen Clam chairs, lounge chairs and other seating on 1stDibs.

to
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
47
92
85
64
56
Creator: Arnold Madsen
Pair of Arnold Madsen Sheepskin Clam Stools
By Arnold Madsen
Located in London, England
Arnold Madsen - Pair of Clam Stools The Clam Stool is the perfect companion piece for Arnold Madsen's iconic Clam Chair. This new design has been has been developed in close collabo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Sheepskin, Fabric, Bouclé, Oak, Walnut

Pair of Arnold Madsen Sheepskin & Walnut Clam Stools
By Arnold Madsen
Located in London, England
Arnold Madsen - Pair of Sheepskin & Walnut Clam Stools The Clam Stool is the perfect companion piece for Arnold Madsen's iconic Clam Chair. This new design has been has been develop...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Sheepskin, Fabric, Bouclé, Oak, Walnut

Related Items
Pair of Modern Upholstered Ottoman Stools on Casters
Located in North York, ON
Pair of Modern Upholstered Ottoman Stools on Casters. Unique marble like linen fabric with folded pleaded corners. Thick upholstered cushioning with r...
Category

1990s American Modern Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Pair of Modern Upholstered Ottoman Stools on Casters
Pair of Modern Upholstered Ottoman Stools on Casters
$2,760 Sale Price / set
20% Off
H 16 in W 20 in D 20 in
Early Pair Of Arnold Madsen Clam Chairs In Curly Sheepskin, 1944
By Madsen & Schubell, Arnold Madsen
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Fantastic pair of early edition Clam chairs, which were designed in 1944 in Copenhagen for Madsen and Schubell and ever since have become an icon of the Danish Modern design period. ...
Category

1940s Vintage Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Sheepskin, Bentwood

Early Pair Of Arnold Madsen Clam Chairs In Curly Sheepskin, 1944
Early Pair Of Arnold Madsen Clam Chairs In Curly Sheepskin, 1944
$23,030 / set
H 25.6 in W 29.53 in D 33.47 in
Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
By Milo Baughman
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Silk Parson Ottomans or stools. Gingham silk upholstery covers the pair. very good condition. In the Billy Baldwin style with button top. This ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Wood, Upholstery, Silk, Fabric

Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
$1,080 Sale Price / set
28% Off
H 18.5 in W 23.5 in D 16.75 in
Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools
By René Drouet
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Delightful pair of petite wrought iron stools in the style of René Drouet and René Prou. The iron bases feature exaggerated cabriole legs ending in scrolled feet and are painted in...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools
Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools
$3,306 / set
H 18.12 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Pair of Modern Curule Stools
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Modern curule stool with a button tufted leather cushion seat above a pewter-finished iron curule form base with gilded accents. Dimensions: 20" W x ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Iron

Pair of Modern Curule Stools
Pair of Modern Curule Stools
$1,950 / item
H 21 in W 20 in D 16 in
Pair of Danny Ho Fong Cane Stools
By Tropi-cal, Danny Ho Fong
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of cane and iron stools by Danny Ho Fong for Tropi-Cal c.1960s, USA. The stools feature iron frames and the original caning. Dimensions 14.75" width x 14.75" depth x 12.5" heig...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Pair of Danny Ho Fong Cane Stools
Pair of Danny Ho Fong Cane Stools
$1,800 / set
H 12.5 in W 14.75 in D 14.75 in
Arnold Madsen Rare Pair of Ivory Sheepskin Shearling Clam Chairs 1944
By Arnold Madsen, Madsen & Schubell
Located in New York, NY
Arnold Madsen for Madsen & Schubell rare pair of Clam chairs with birch arms and legs and newly upholstered in luxurious ivory curly sheepskin or shearling adorned with camel leather...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Bouclé, Birch

Pierre Guariche Pair of Minotaur Stools, France 1960's
By Pierre Guariche
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Minotaur stools in leather with black enameled steel bases.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Steel

Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Italian Brass and Sheepskin Small Stool, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Small brass stool designed by Gio Ponti in the 1950s. Polished and upholstered in goatskin.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century Italian Carved Baroque Walnut Ottoman/Stools
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair of 19th century Italian carved Baroque walnut ottoman/stools. These are done in the manner of Andrea Brustolon (1662 –1732), who was a Venetian carver best known for incorpora...
Category

19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Walnut

Arnold Madsen ‘Clam’ Chair in Sheepskin, 1940s
By Arnold Madsen, Madsen & Schubell
Located in Prague, New Town
Rare Danish armless 'Clam' chair, designed by Arnold Madsen (1907-1989). Produced by Madsen & Schubell in the 1940s. Made from wood, seat is newly uphol...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Arnold Madsen ‘Clam’ Chair in Sheepskin, 1940s
Arnold Madsen ‘Clam’ Chair in Sheepskin, 1940s
$21,000
H 35.04 in W 24.02 in D 16.15 in
Pair of Vintage Blue Upholstered Round Stools
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of modern Contemporary round Moroccan style stool in blue and brown fabric upholstery in 1970s style. Moroccan little pouf hassock, upholstered footstool or modern circular otto...
Category

20th Century American Moorish Arnold Madsen Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Fabric

Arnold Madsen ottomans and poufs for sale on 1stDibs.

Arnold Madsen ottomans and poufs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arnold Madsen ottomans and poufs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Arnold Madsen ottomans and poufs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,785 and can go as high as $4,785, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,785.

Recently Viewed

View All