The work of furniture designer Illum Wikkelsø wholly embodies the spirit of Scandinavian modernism. With their organic forms and wealth of angles inspired by the Danish countryside, his vintage lounge chairs, sofas and other seating pieces offer ergonomic comfort and lasting visual appeal.
Born Kristian Illum Wikkelsø and raised in a town near Faaborg, Denmark, the designer grew up around carpentry and cabinetmaking. He apprenticed with a cabinetmaker in his teens and enrolled in classes at the Technical Society School in Copenhagen as well as the Danish School of Arts & Crafts. At the latter, Wikkelsø studied under Kaare Klint, an architect and designer widely recognized as the father of modern Danish furniture.
After completing his studies, Wikkelsø went on to work with famed Danish architect and furniture maker Jacob Kjær. After a time with Kjær, he moved on. He went to work for designer and architect Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen at Hvidt & Mølgaard, a firm established by Mølgaard-Nielsen — Wikkelsø’s former instructor at the Technical Society School — and Peter Hvidt that yielded more than 250 designs and lasted over 30 years.
In 1954, Wikkelsø opened his own design studio in Aarhus, Denmark. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he made quite a name for himself, with designs that were new and innovative to the industry at the time. He created furniture for Holger Christiansen and secured commissions from the Danish government. While he’s likely best known today for his inviting teak and leather lounge chairs or slender rosewood dining chairs, some of Wikkelsø’s 1960s-era lounge chairs merged Danish craftsmanship and Pop art with their unconventionally shaped chrome frames and vibrantly colored upholstery.
Wikkelsø passed away in 1999, but collectors around the world continue to prize his outstanding designs.
Find vintage Illum Wikkelsø tables, seating and case pieces on 1stDibs.
$1,395 / item
Danish Modern Teak Illum Wikkelso Teak Planter
By Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Danish modern teak planter designed by Illum Wikkelso. Original black plastic liner. Two available. Price is per piece. Professional, skill...
Teak
$875
H 17.88 in W 34.75 in D 11 in
Danish Teak Planter w/ Silk Plantings in the style of Spottrup -Stolefabrik
By Spøttrup Stolefabrik
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very unique teak wood indoor rectangle plant container with a fantastic professinally done silk arrangement included in the piece. Manufactured in the style of Spottrup / Stolefabr...
Plastic, Teak, Silk
Hugo Frandsen large planter in rosewood Spottrup Denmark 1960
By Spøttrup Stolefabrik, Hugo Frandsen
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Hugo Frandsen large planter in rosewood, manufactured by Spottrup Stolefabrik, Denmark, 1960s. A beautifully proportioned Danish modern design that combines sculptural simplicity wit...
Metal
Arne Wahl Iversen Model 36 Planter / Hallway Chest in Teak
By Vinde Møbelfabrik, Arne Wahl Iversen
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Arne Wahl Iversen Manufacturer: Vinde Mobelfabrik Era: 1960s Materials: Teak Measurements: 35.75" wide x 13" deep x 22" tall
Teak
$7,450 / set
H 9.65 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Pair of 1960s danish modern planters in patinated copper and black paint steel.
By Poul Kjærholm, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Cassina
Located in København K, 84
This pair of Danish modernist planters from the 1960s exemplifies the refined minimalism and architectural clarity that defined Scandinavian design of the era. Each planter consists ...
Copper, Steel
Mid Century Modern White Glazed Ceramic Planter
By Gainey Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition This vintage Mid-Century Modern planter by Gainey, dating to the 1960s, features a clean cylindrical form finished in a crisp white glazed ceramic. Its simple silhouette and glossy surface give the piece a refined architectural quality that works especially well in modern, minimalist, or eclectic interiors. The substantial ceramic construction and understated proportions allow the planter to function equally well as a decorative object or as a vessel for indoor plants. Presented in original vintage condition, the glaze retains the natural surface character and subtle age-related variation expected from a piece of this period. Elegant and versatile, this Gainey planter is a strong example of California ceramic design from the Mid-Century Modern era. Fun Historical Fact Gainey Ceramics became especially well known in California for producing modern architectural planters during the mid-20th century. Their pieces were frequently used in homes, offices, hotels, and commercial interiors where clean-lined ceramic forms complemented modern architecture. Large glazed planters became an important decorative element of 1950s and 1960s interiors, helping bring greenery into increasingly open and minimalist spaces. Vintage Gainey planters...
Ceramic
Modern Cast-Concrete and Solid Walnut "Planter Box"
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
This unique planter box is made from a cast-concrete top with a solid wood walnut base. The concrete is finished with an acrylic sealer that maintains ...
Concrete
$959Sale Price|56% Off
H 23.88 in W 39.25 in D 11.07 in
Vintage BRDR Dalsgaard for Illums Bolighus Jardinière Planter in Teak, 1960s
By Illums Bolighus
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An attractive and incredibly well-preserved planter or jardinie`re in gorgeous old growth richly colored teak. Designed by BRDR Dalsgaard for Illums Bolighus, circa 1960. Splayed leg...
Teak
Classic Danish Modern Minimalist Rosewood Planter with Metal Insert
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Danish modern rosewood planter with label. Classic Minimalist rosewood frame with black metal insert.
Metal
$2,521
H 20.87 in W 31.5 in D 9.85 in
Handmade Woven Wicker Rattan Cane Planter Jardiniere, 1940s Denmark
By Viggo Boesen, Robert Wengler
Located in Odense, DK
Beautiful vintage wicker rattan planter handmade in Denmark in the 1940s. In the style of Viggo Boesen and Robert Wengler. In the 1850s, wicker furniture became a permanent fixture i...
Cane, Rattan
Danish Teak Catch-All/ Planter with Enamel Bowl
Located in Highland, IN
This fantastic little piece is an example of great Danish design. A simple planter or catch-all that is comprised of an enamel bowl supported by a teak stand is designed with delight...
Metal
Scandinavian Modern Planter by Askel Kjersgaard
By Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in San Francisco, CA
Scandinavian Modern cubic planter with chamfered legs, teak veneer and removable plastic liner. Designed by Aksel Kjersgaard and made in Denmark by Feldballes Mobelfabrik, circa 1960...
Teak
Swedish Laggkärl/Planter 1835
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Laggkärl - dated 1835 Original made for storage of grain and wheat. A perfect planter for a bigger tree or plant. Made in pine. Heigth: 65 cm/25.6 inch Diameter: 46 cm/18....
Pine