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.
Finn Juhl Rosewood and Leather Stool, Mid-Century Modern, 1950s
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in PARIS, FR
Rosewood and leather stools that take up the aesthetic characteristics of Finn Juhl's design: a simple design with great attention to detail, organic and Japanese curved lines as wel...
Leather, Rosewood
60s 70s Stool Ottoman Teak Inger Klingenberg for France & Daverkosen
By France & Daverkosen, Inger Klingenberg
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s stool ottoman teak Inger Klingenberg for France & Daverkosen Object: stool Manufacturer: France & Daverkossen Condition: good - vi...
Fabric, Teak
Danish Modern Teak Stool / Ottoman
Located in Denton, TX
Solid thick teak wood with dovetailed corners can be also used for a side table.
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Brass Chiavari Stool, 1950s, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage brass stool Chiavari 1950s Italy, which shows a brass frame and an upholstered seat. The seat is newly covered with blu...
Metal, Brass
Daybed sofa GS195 by Gianni Songia for Sormani 60s, 70s
By Gianni Songia, Sormani
Located in Padova, IT
Condition: Good condition with small signs of age and use especially on the feet The GS195 sofa, designed by Gianni Songia for Sormani in 1963, is a highly regarded Mid-Century Mode...
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Oak Stool, France, 1950s
By Pierre Chapo, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Den Haag, NL
Mid-Century Modern dark oak stool, France, 1950s.
Oak
$1,526 / set
H 40.16 in W 17.33 in D 16.54 in
Set of 4 Mid Century Bar Stools in Thonet style, Italy 70s
Located in Lucija, SI
Set of four bentwood bsr stools in Thonet style Made in the 70s in Italy In very good condition with trace of use
Cane, Beech, Bentwood
Rare Midcentury Stool Produced by Mario Sabot, Italy 70s
By Mario Sabot
Located in Lucija, SI
Very rare stool designed produce by Mario Sabot Italy in the 70s Lacquared wood and leather.
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
$926,631
H 36.82 in W 40.16 in D 34.65 in
The Chieftain Easy Chair in Leather and Rosewood by Finn Juhl, 1950s
By Finn Juhl
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
The Chieftain easy chair, designed by Finn Juhl and produced by master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder in Denmark in the early 1960s, stands as one of the most revered and iconic pieces in...
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-Century Modern French Primitive 4-Legs Wooden Stool, 1950s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Mid-Century Modern French primitive 4-legs wooden stool, 1950s Very good condition with very nice Patina.
Wood
Ulm Stool by Max Bill, Mid-Century Modern, Germany, 1950s
By Max Bill
Located in Berlin, DE
The Ulm Stool may seem unassuming at first glance, yet its story is as fascinating as its minimalist design. Created by Max Bill, the first rector of the Ulm...
Spruce
$9,500 / set
H 27.5 in W 26.75 in D 28.5 in
Finn Juhl Danish Mid-Century Modern Japan Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Daverkosen
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in Stamford, CT
Finn Juhl Danish Mid-Century Modern Japan Lounge Chair and Ottoman, France & Daverkosen, Black Leather Early production Japan Lounge Chair and Ottoman, model 137, c. 1960 designed...
Teak
Warren Platner Ottomans/Stools for Knoll
By Warren Platner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Warren Platner Ottomans/Stools manufactured by Knoll Original velvet Upholstery
Stainless Steel
$1,037
H 15.36 in Dm 16.15 in
Mid-Century Italian Handcrafted Cane Bamboo & Rattan Stool, Albini Style, 60s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a beautiful Mid-Century Modern Italian stool, entirely handcrafted from natural fibers and dating from the 1950s to 1960s. This piece features a sol...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
Sold
H 18.12 in W 18.51 in D 14.97 in
Pair of Danish stools in solid teak and fabric, model 193 by Inger Klingenberg.
By France & Daverkosen, Inger Klingenberg
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Adorable Scandinavian stools. Their airy seats give these stools a great elegance. Beautifully crafted and very comfortable. This model is referenced at the Design Museum Denmark und...
Fabric, Teak