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.
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
$1,452
H 25.6 in W 30.32 in D 20.48 in
Rare 1960s Model 5370 Trolley by Borge Mogensen for Frederica Mobelfabrik
By Fredericia Stolefabrik, Børge Mogensen
Located in Beerse, VAN
Wooden trolley in solid oak and black formica designed by Borge Mogensen for Frederica Mobelfabrik. You can see from the wheels that this is definitely a 1960s edition. In beautiful...
Formica, Oak
$3,800 / set
H 27 in W 53 in D 35.5 in
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
$5,800Sale Price|31% Off
H 28.5 in W 62.75 in D 37.5 in
P. Lauritsen & Søn Danish Teak Extension Dining Table by Borge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen, P. Lauritsen & Son 1
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern expandable dining table Model no. BM 60 in teak designed by Børge Mogensen for P. Lauritsen & Søn, c. 1958. This ...
Oak, Teak
Dining Table by Børge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Model 103 - 'Øresund' addition table in teak. Designed in 1961. Two leaves of 56 cm. Measure: L. 182 cm. Børge Mogensen / Karl Andersson & Son.
Teak
Danish Modern Set of Rosewood Nesting Tables, 1960s.
By Poul Hundevad
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Set of Rosewood Nesting Tables, 1960s. Set of three Scandinavian Modern Rosewood/Palisander nesting tables with tapered legs and beautiful expressive veneer pattern. Th...
Rosewood
$1,850
H 19.5 in W 14 in D 22 in
Set of 3 MCM Teak Nesting Tables by Svante Skogh for Seffle, Sweden c. 1960s
By Svante Skogh, Seffle Möbelfabrik
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exceptionally crafted sturdy set of three Mid-Century Swedish Modern nesting or stacking tables showcasing the functional elegance of classic Scandinavian design. Attributed to celeb...
Hardwood, Teak
Scandinavian round birch coffee table by Karl Andersson & Söner
Located in Brescia, IT
Vintage Scandinavian birch coffee table by Karl Andersson & Söner with original label, removable round top that becomes a tray. Pure, light lines for a birch coffee table by Karl An...
Birch
$4,900 / set
H 8.87 in W 15.5 in D 9.37 in
Italian Designer, Pair of Wall-Mounted Consoles, Bamboo, Rattan, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of bamboo and rattan wall-mounted consoles designed and produced by an Italian designer, Italy, 1960s.
Bamboo, Rattan
$3,556
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
$5,895 / set
H 31.89 in W 21.26 in D 10.63 in
Scandinavian Modern Shelving – Danish Bookshelves, 1960s Vintage Set
Located in Stockholm, SE
Set of eight shelves, anonymous, Denmark. 1960s. Oregon Pine. Stackable. Measures: 4x small H: 18 cm / 7" W: 54 cm / 21 1/4" D: 27 cm / 10 1/2" 2x medium H: 27 cm / 10...
Pine
$8,438
H 28.35 in W 74.81 in D 32.88 in
Borge Mogensen Oak Executive Desk for P. Lauritsen & Son, 1960.
By P. Lauritsen & Son 1, Børge Mogensen
Located in Paris, FR
Rare freestanding desk designed by Børge Mogensen and produced by P. Lauritsen & Søn in Denmark, ca late 1950s-1960s. The desk comes apart in three separated pieces, the top and the ...
Brass
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
Sold
H 18.9 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Børge Mogensen Cubic Nesting Tables 375 Solid Walnut Fredericia Stolefabrik 1970
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish vintage Børge Mogensen cubic nesting tables model 375. The three tables are made of solid Walnut with visible joints. Aparated by lifting them apart. The nesting tables are m...
Walnut
Sold
H 18.51 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Børge Mogensen Cubic Nesting Tables 375 of Solid Teak by Fredericia Stolefabrik
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish vintage Børge Mogensen cubic nesting tables model 375. The three tables are made of solid teak with visible joints and are separated by lifting them apart. The nesting tab...
Teak
Pair of Floating Nightstands by Børge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Lejre, DK
Pair of floating nightstands in teak designed by Maa. Børge Mogensen for Søborg furniture in the 1950s. The nightstands are in great origi...
Teak
Large Nesting Tables by Børge Mogensen
By Fredericia, Børge Mogensen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Handsome, functional and in fine condition. All original. The smaller table features carved teak wheels with brass hardware for ease of use. Model number 5377, serial number 273. ...
Metal