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.
Børge Mogensen Teak 'Partners' Desk for AB Karl Andersson, 1960
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful Børge Mogensen teak "partner's" desk from the second half of the 20th century, a two part desk that can be used as console tables, label marked, partially worn, marks, stai...
Brass
$2,500
H 28.75 in W 57.09 in D 28.75 in
Midcentury Freestanding Desk in Teak by Børge Mogensen, Danish Design, 1950s
By Børge Mogensen, Søborg Møbelfabrik
Located in Lejre, DK
Desk in teak, designed by Maa. Børge Mogensen for Sobørg furniture. Great original condition.
Teak
$3,313
H 28.75 in W 39.38 in D 23.63 in
Borge Mogensen Desk & Chair Oak Soborg Mobler Denmark 1954 Writing Table
By Søberg Møbler, Børge Mogensen
Located in Basel, BS
Børge Mogensen desk, model 132 for Søborg Møbelfabrik. The writing desk was first published in the 1954 Søborg catalogue, the here offered model w...
Oak
$2,731
H 27.56 in W 35.44 in D 16.54 in
1960s Italian Art Deco Midcentury Walnut Brass Small Desk Writing Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern small desk or writing table secretaire, in beautiful decorated and veneer wood with three drawers and covered sides. This beautiful p...
Brass
$12,289
H 27.96 in W 66.54 in D 30.71 in
Teak Desk by Børge Mogensen, Scandinavian Modern, Denmark, 1950s
By Børge Mogensen, P. Lauritsen & Son 1
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Beautiful teak desk by Børge Mogensen. Two sets of drawers with inset brass pulls and extendable leaves just underneath the tabletop. The top right drawer has an insert with compartm...
Brass
$5,917 / set
H 17.72 in W 27.17 in D 11.03 in
Pair of Børge Mogensen Wall Shelves by Karl Andersson & Söner, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of pine wall shelves / bedside tables designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Sweden by Karl Andersson & Söner, 1960s.
Pine
Borge Mogensen Desk 1960s Soborg Mobler
By Soborg Mobler, Børge Mogensen
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic freestanding desk by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbler from the 1960s. Corpus in teak veneer with five drawers and long legs. Accomplished design: perfect proportions and v...
Teak
Partners Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite early 19th-century English mahogany partner's desk is characterized by its robust structure and classic detailing. The molded black leather top, framed by a tooled gil...
Mahogany
$5,917
H 28.55 in W 63 in D 35.44 in
"Hunting table" desk or dining table by Børge Mogensen, Søborg Denmark
By Børge Mogensen, Soborg Furniture Factory
Located in Hägersten, SE
"Hunitng table" designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Denmark by Søborg Furniture. Solid oak legs with teak feet. Brass runners and table top in teak. Works perfectly as either a d...
Brass
Børge Mogensen Teak Coffee Table, Denmark, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Berlin, DE
Børge Mogensen teak coffee table. Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) was a prominent Danish furniture designer who made significant contributions to the development of Mid-Century Modern des...
Teak
Børge Mogensen BM-66 Desk, Teak, Danish Design, Circa 1950s
By Børge Mogensen, P. Lauritsen & Son 1
Located in Ghent, BE
This beautiful double pedestal desk, model BM-66, exemplifies Børge Mogensen’s dedication to functional, understated design. Crafted for P. Lauritsen & Søn in the 1950s, it featu...
Brass
$10,059
H 29.14 in W 70.87 in D 35.44 in
Børge Mogensen Dining Table / Desk Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare dining table / desk designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark.
Steel
$10,059
H 28.35 in W 94.49 in D 35.44 in
Børge Mogensen Dining Table or Desk by Søborg Møbler in Denmark
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare dining table or desk designed in 1953 by Børge Mogensen. Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark.
Steel
Børge Mogensen Teak 'Partner's' Desk for AB Karl Andersson, 1960
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful Børge Mogensen teak "partner's" desk from the second half of the 20th century, a two part desk that can be used as console tables, label marked, partially worn, marks, stai...
Brass
Borge Mogensen Teak Drop-Leaf Dining Table
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Fulton, CA
A scarce oversized example of the Børge Mogensen Danish Modern model 840 teak and oak drop leaf dining table measuring a massive 83.88 inches in length. This table would function ver...
Oak, Teak
Borge Mogensen Oak Dining Table Karl Andersson, Denmark, 1955
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice and large extendable dining table model 140 designed by Borge Mogensen and manufactured by Karl Andersson, Denmark 1955. The table is 130×130 cm round and extendable using 2 ext...
Brass
Sold
H 25.2 in W 94.49 in D 38.19 in
Børge Mogensen Console or Library Table by Erhard Rasmussen in Denmark
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare console or library table designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced by Erhard Rasmussen in Denmark.
Cherry, Pine