Among the great mid-20th century Danish furniture designers, Børge Mogensen distinguished himself with his faith to traditional values of craftsmanship and honesty of materials.
While peers such as Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl and Arne Jacobsen designed some of the most striking and now iconic furnishings of the era, Mogensen focused on making chairs, sofas and other pieces that were simple, durable and comfortable — and in the long run perhaps more useful and better loved.
Mogensen studied under and later worked for Kaare Klint, a master cabinetmaker whose chief tenets were quality of construction and simplicity of line. Klint was a classicist, who believed that furniture forms should evolve from those of historical models. So, too, in his way was Mogensen, as two of his best-known earlier pieces attest.
His 1945 Spokeback sofa, with hinged arms that can be lowered to facilitate lounging, is a reinterpretation of the venerable Knole settee. With the oval silhouette of its plywood backrest and waterdrop-shaped cutouts, Mogensen’s Shell chair, designed in 1949, can be seen as a novel take on early 19th-century Empire side chairs.
Yet Mogensen shared the aesthetical sensibilities of his most forward-looking colleagues. His cabinets deploy the same spare geometries and lushly figured woods as those of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his disciple Florence Knoll, the chief difference being that Mies and Knoll used chrome steel for the frames and legs of their pieces. The brawny oak frames and slung leather seats and backrests of Mogensen’s Hunting chair (1950) and Spanish chair (1958) display the same hefty construction and appreciation of natural materials seen in the work of Charlotte Perriand and Sergio Rodrigues.
Mogensen designed for function more than sculptural effect. While his chairs may not be the first pieces in a décor to draw the eye, they are often the first to draw in those looking for a comfortable seat.
Find vintage Børge Mogensen dining tables, bookcases and other Scandinavian modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Oak and Polychrome "Öresund" Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen, Karl Andersson
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Desk organizer model A4/3 from the Öresund series designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Söner during the 1960s. Made from solid oak with three drawers in...
Oak, Lacquer
Oak desk organizer by Borge Mogensen for ILLUMS BOLIGHUS
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Greensboro, NC
Oak desk organizer by Borge Mogensen, circa 1960s. retains its original ILLUMS BOLIGHUS label. Shows minor wear commensurate with age and use. Original paint, mild wear to drawers ...
Oak
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
MCM Bright Red Modular Desk Organizer by Karl Deyhle of Germany
By Gebrüder Deyhle
Located in San Diego, CA
Sculptural mid-century modern modular desk organizer by Karl Deyhle, produced in Germany circa the 1960s. Executed in vibrant red molded plastic, the set comprises multiple cylindric...
Metal
Vintage Red Swivel Desk Storage Organizer by Rino Pirovano for Art 900
By Rexite
Located in East Quogue, NY
This vintage red swivel desk organizer, designed by Rino Pirovano for Rexite in the mid-1970s, is a celebrated example of Italian design. Made of ABS plastic, it features four rotati...
Plastic
$2,149Sale Price|34% Off
H 6.5 in W 14.57 in D 10.63 in
Antique English Victorian Bramah Leather Fold-out Stationary Writing Desk
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful & Luxurious Handcrafted Victorian Bramah Fold-out Travelling Writing Companion With Fitted Leather Interior, Ceramic Blotting Tablets. Complete with Beautifully Desi...
Brass
Georg Petersens Mid Century Teak Desk Organizer Denmark
By Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A teak top of the desk organizer with four letter slots , two storage cubies and an open top shelve . This well designed accessory is the perfect piece for easy access to your papers...
Teak
$1,771Sale Price|29% Off
H 7 in W 18 in D 10 in
English Regency Mahogany Travelling Lap Desk Box with Secret Compartment
Located in Savannah, GA
Large size English Regency mahogany travelling sloped lap desk/ box with original brass corner mounts, hinges, pin, top mount and retractable handles. Features include a side drawer,...
Brass
English Campaign Style Rosewood Brass Inlaid Lap Desk, circa 1850
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine quality brass inlaid Campaign style traveling desk with a recessed brass handle engraved with the name of its owner, Anne Orten. The piece opens to reveal a velvet lined writi...
Brass
$475
H 8 in W 13.75 in D 11 in
Vintage American Walnut 2-Tier Desk Organizer / Paper Tray by Shield Industries
Located in San Diego, CA
A sculptural and highly functional two-tier desk organizer crafted from genuine American walnut by Shield Industries, a California maker known for clean-lined, modernist desk accesso...
Walnut
MCM Office Desk Paper Organizer Tray
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Mid-Century Modern desk office tray, clean design in two levels made by IRGSA, circa 1970.
Wood
Vintage Bamboo And Rattan Letter Holder Desk Organizer
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Bamboo Letter Holder or Desk Organizer. Three compartments on top and two large shelves on bottom. Good condition and sturdy, ready to use. 11" wide
Bamboo, Rattan
$195Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.35 in W 3.35 in D 3.35 in
Desk Organizer with Perpetual Calendar by Fabio Manlio Ciocca for Guzzini, 1980s
By Guzzini
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Stylish desk organizer with perpetual calendar made of plexiglass, designed by Fabio Manlio Ciocca and produced by Guzzini in the 80s. This lovely vintage piece has a rigorous squar...
Plexiglass
Vintage Bamboo Letter Holder Desk Organizer
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Bamboo Letter Holder or Desk Organizer. Three compartments on top and a large area on bottom. Good condition and sturdy, ready to use. 11" wide
Bamboo
Sold
H 8.47 in W 13.78 in D 10.63 in
Oak and Polychrome "Öresund" Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen, Karl Andersson
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Desk organizer model A4/3 from the Öresund series designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Söner during the 1960s. Made from solid oak with three drawers in...
Oak, Lacquer
Sold
H 8.47 in W 13.98 in D 10.63 in
Børge Mogensen Desk Organizer, Karl Andersson & Söner, Sweden, 1950s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Desk organizer designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Söner during the 1950s. Made from solid light oak with insert boxes in red, white and grey/green pai...
Oak
Sold
H 8.47 in W 13.98 in D 10.63 in
Børge Mogensen Desk Organizer, Karl Andersson & Söner, Sweden, 1950s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Desk organizer designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Söner during the 1950s. Made from solid light oak with insert boxes in red, white and grey/green pai...
Oak
Sold
H 8.5 in W 10.75 in D 14 in
Oak Desk Organizer with Painted Drawers by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Danish-designed, Swedish-made desk organizer by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner from the late 1950s or early 1960s. The small box has a case of solid oak with rounded corne...
Oak
Sold
H 8.5 in W 10.75 in D 14 in
Oak Desk Organizer with Painted Drawers by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Danish-designed, Swedish-made desk organizer by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner from the late 1950s or early 1960s. The small box has a case of solid oak with rounded corne...
Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Lovely desk organizer by Børge Mogensen, made from oak with yellow, orange and white lacquered drawers. The drawers fit A4 size magazines and documents.
Wood
Børge Mogensen Desk Organizer
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
Desk organizer designed by Danish designer Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Soner in the 1960s. Solid oak with three drawers in so...
Oak
Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner Desk Organizer
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A colorful three-drawer desk organizer, by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner, circa 1965. Organizer measures 8.5" H x 10.75"...
Oak
Lacquered Drawer Box by Borge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A solid oak desk organizer with lacquered wood trays (also available in grey and red) Designed by Borge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Soner
Oak