The giant of mid-century furniture design France & Søn began its remarkable journey as a Danish firm specializing in the production and exporting of Scandinavian design called France & Daverkosen.
British businessman Charles William Fearnley France and Danish cabinetmaker Eric Daverkosen entered into a joint venture in 1936 — France being the investor and Daverkosen the head designer for their small mattress factory. Soon after production started at the France & Daverkosen company, Daverkosen became quite ill.
Concerned for his friend and their fledgling business, France traveled to Denmark, and Daverkosen died soon after his partner arrived. While France was attempting to make arrangements to transfer the company into his hands, World War II erupted, and Germany invaded Denmark. As a British citizen, France was captured and sent to a prison camp in Germany.
While in captivity, France developed several manufacturing ideas to pass the time and to keep his mind focused. He imagined a way to create lightweight wooden chairs that could be manufactured on an industrial scale and transported using an economic flat-pack format. He also thought of a way to retool his mattress factory to create chair backs, seats and sofa cushions.
Once freed, France returned to his business in Denmark and began to manufacture beech and teak goods that were gaining widespread acclaim around the world. He began to surround himself with some of the best Scandinavian designers of the time: Finn Juhl, Grete Jalk and Ole Wanscher, to name a few.
By 1954, France & Daverkosen accounted for 60 percent of all Danish furniture exports and their factory employed 350 people. Charles’s son James joined the company in 1957, which resulted in the name change to France & Søn.
Later, France & Søn was acquired by Danish designer Poul Cadovius, who folded it into the operations at CADO, a company he founded during the 1950s.
On 1stDibs, find France & Daverkosen seating, tables and more.
$12,500 / set
Danish Modern Teak Sectional Sofa by Peter Hvidt
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This stunning two-piece sectional sofa represents the pinnacle of Danish modern design, created by the renowned design duo Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for France & Daverkos...
Chrome
$16,395
H 32.29 in W 106.3 in D 82.68 in
Danish Design Minerva Sofa Set by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen Teak, 1950
By Peter Hvidt, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, France & Daverkosen
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Extremely rare & stunning! This fully original ''Minerva seating group'' by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for France & Daverkosen 1950. The design & luxurious feeling of this set are just superb. The combination of teak, rattan, wool & chrome are breathtaking. It looks stunning from any angle with the minimalist teak & chrome backrests so you can place it in the center of your room. The set has its original finish & original padded wool upholstery in grey/green. which remains in amazing condition! The FD516 coffee table...
Chrome
$8,000
H 32 in W 80 in D 30 in
Teak & Cane "FD" Sofa by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for John Stuart
By Hvidt & Mølgaard, John Stuart, Peter Hvidt, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, France & Søn
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Make your living room the envy of the neighborhood with this breathtaking teak & rattan sofa designed by legendary Scandinavian Modern duo Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen. Buil...
Brass
$11,500
H 29 in W 63 in D 129 in
Sulptural Mid-Century Modern Curved Sectional Sofa by M Fillmore Harty, Preview
By M. Fillmore Harty, Weiman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Available right now is this stunning M. Fillmore Harty for Preview, tagged, two piece sectional. A sculpture that happens to be a sofa! It is upholstered in the original Rose colored...
Fabric
Mid-Century Modern Curved Sectional L Shaped Sofa
By Carsons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A curvy three piece sectional designed by Carson's Furniture and produced in the early 1980s. It features a unique over lapping cushion design. Fabric is original, and dated, but usa...
Fabric
Felicerossi Italian Post-Modern Sectional Sofa, 1970s
By Felicerossi
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rare Felicerossi Italian post-modern sectional sofa in brown and beige fabric upholstery, produced in the 1970s. This organically shaped modular model consists of three units that ...
Metal
$7,800
H 28 in W 142 in D 110 in
Mid-Century Post Modern Curved L Shaped Cloud Sectional Sofa by Directional
By Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek & stunning L shaped sectional sofa with incredible design lines. This well built sofa is by Directional furniture, circa 1980s. It features the original fabric in a 3 separat...
Fabric
$5,377
H 26.5 in W 171 in D 117 in
Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman Style Hexagonal Curved Sectional Sofa by Drexel
By Drexel
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman style hexagonal curved sectional sofa by Drexel. Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman style large hexagonal curved sectional sofa By Drexel Heri...
Fabric
$48,000
H 31 in W 125.5 in D 107 in
Mid-Century Modern Sectional Velvet Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, USA
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward Wormley for Dunbar, c.1960s, USA, two-piece sectional sofa. The sofa features split arm rests and an exposed sculpted ebonized wood frame. This sofa has been fully reupholster...
Velvet, Walnut, Upholstery
$12,500
H 29 in W 128 in D 105 in
Mid-Century Modern Curved Serpentine Sectional Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Weiman
By Weiman, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Sleek and modern, this sofa was designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Weiman Preview, dating to the 1980s. It features an elegant three-piece design, with the main body set upon...
Fabric, Upholstery
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 33 in W 48 in D 30 in
Danish Modern Solid Teak "Minerva" Daybed / Sofa by Peter Hvidt for John Stuart
By John Stuart, Peter Hvidt
Located in San Diego, CA
An absolutely gorgeous Danish modern solid teak "Minerva" daybed / sofa by Peter Hvidt for John Stuart, circa 1960s. The piece is in very good original vintage condition with a brigh...
Teak, Chenille
1950s Danish Sofa by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard
By Peter Hvidt
Located in Victoria, BC
A rare and elegant sofa by Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, showcasing the refined proportions and architectural clarity that define his early Danish modern work. The sculptural frame, angled ...
Wood
$4,950
H 28.94 in W 90.56 in D 30.71 in
Modern American Sectional Corner Sofa in Structured Yellow Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sectional sofa, structured yellow upholstery, metal, United States, 1960s This two-part sofa is upholstered in soft yellow structured fabric that emphasizes the strong lines...
Metal
1960s Vintage Teak Sofa or Daybed by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
Located in London, GB
A stunning and extremely comfortable sofa designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen, this is an early model dating from the 1950s. It was made by France & Daverkosen, it reta...
Teak
1960s Vintage Teak Sofa / Daybed by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
Located in London, GB
A stunning and extremely comfortable sofa designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen, this is an early model dating from the 1950s. It was made by France & Daverkosen, it reta...
Teak
1960s Vintage Teak Sofa / Daybed by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
Located in London, GB
A stunning and extremely comfortable sofa designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen, this is an early model dating from the 1950s. It was made by France & Daverkosen, it reta...
Teak