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.
$2,470Sale Price|40% Off
Borge Mogensen Teak Dining Table with Extension Leaf c1950
By Børge Mogensen
Located in London, GB
Circular extension table of teak with one extension leaf. Manufactured by P. Lauridsen & Søn, Aalestrup. H. 71 cm. Diam. 130 cm. L. with extensions 190cm. Set of six dining cha...
Teak
$3,623Sale Price|44% Off
1950s Børge Mogensen Rectangular Table, beech frame, solid teak top and shoes
By Børge Mogensen
Located in London, GB
1950s Børge Mogensen Rectangular table with beech frame, solid teak top and shoes. Manufactured and stamped by C.M. Madsen. H. 72 cm. L. 125 cm. W. 80 cm.
Teak, Beech
$2,450
H 28.75 in W 94.49 in D 35.44 in
Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik Extendable Dining Table in Teak
By Børge Mogensen, Søborg Møbelfabrik
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, extendable dining table, model 153, teak, Denmark, 1952. This extendable dining table is characterized by a strong and solid construction exe...
Teak
$2,750
H 29.14 in W 92.52 in D 35.24 in
Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik Extendable Dining Table in Teak
By Børge Mogensen, Søborg Møbelfabrik
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, extendable dining table, model 153, teak, Denmark, 1952. Designed by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, this dining table model 153 is ch...
Teak
$2,700
H 27.56 in W 59.06 in D 33.47 in
Børge Mogensen Shaker Dining Table or Desk in solid Oak, Karl Andersson & Söner
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Shaker table designed by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner, Sweden, 1960s. The solid oak frame and tabletop are in very good condition with light signs of use. Lightly cleane...
Oak
$4,000
H 28.75 in W 70.75 in D 35.25 in
1974 Borge Mogensen FDB Oak Dining Work Shaker C18 Table Desk Scandinavian
By FDB Møbler, Børge Mogensen
Located in Hyattsville, MD
1974 Shaker Table example, with the most beautiful patina. The oak examples of the FDB Mogensen stuff really ages wonderfully. This C18 Shaker dining table is dated October 1 1974 (...
Oak
French 1950s Rectangular Solid Walnut Table
Located in Long Island City, NY
French Mid-Century rectangular solid walnut dining/writing table.
Walnut
1950s Harvey Probber Travertine and Ebonized Wood Dining or Game Table
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
Bold, geometric dining or game table designed and manufactured by Harvey Probber for Modern. With cross-hatching legs and an octagonal top of travertine outlined by a thick beveled e...
Travertine
Vintage Danish Teak Drop Leaf Dining Table, 1950s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish teak drop leaf dining table 1950s Beautiful and very elegant Mid-Century Modern dining table with two drop leaves. This design is very much in the style of Børge Moge...
Teak
$4,707
H 27.56 in W 59.06 in D 38.19 in
Børge Mogensen Shaker Dining Table, Fredericia, Denmark, Model 6286
By Fredericia, Børge Mogensen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Børge Mogensen shaker dining table in solid oiled oak. Made by Fredericia, model 6286.
Oak
$2,875
H 29.5 in W 50.25 in D 33.63 in
Vintage Sculptural Scandinavian Extension Teak Draw Leaf Dining Table
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid Century Modern draw leaf dining table in teak, circa 1960s. This unique boat shaped tabletop features continuous flowing grains framed with solid teak curved edges. Supported by ...
Teak
$1,471
H 30.12 in W 32.29 in D 21.66 in
Danish Mid-Century Compact Folding Oak Dining Table by Børge Mogensen, 1950s.
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Compact Folding Oak Dining Table C5 by Børge Mogensen, 1950s. Small and practical extendable foldable table with exposed brass butterfly hinges. Clever Scandinavi...
Oak
$8,500
H 28.55 in W 71 in D 35.5 in
1950s Borge Mogensen Hunting Table Work Desk Teak Brass Soborg Danish
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rarely seen design in the states, a large work surface. Wonderful desk, and has been brought back to spec, meaning all joint and been cleaned and re-glued. This table is strong, st...
Brass
$3,471
H 27.56 in W 59.06 in D 38.39 in
Mid Century 6289 Dining Table by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE
Beautiful Mid Century Modern solid oak dining table model 6289 designed by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia (Denmark). The table was completely restored by our professional carpenter an...
Oak