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Illum Wikkelsø Corner Chairs

Danish, 1919-1999

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.

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Creator: Illum Wikkelsø
Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chair by Illum Wikkelsø, 1960s
By Illum Wikkelsø, Niels Eilersen
Located in London, GB
Scandinavian Modern rocking chair in ebonized wood model IW3 designed 1958 by Illum Wikkelsø.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Illum Wikkelsø Corner Chairs

Materials

Lacquer

Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chair by Illum Wikkelsø, 1960s
Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chair by Illum Wikkelsø, 1960s

Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chair by Illum Wikkelsø, 1960s

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Illum Wikkelsø corner chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Illum Wikkelsø corner chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of lacquer and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Illum Wikkelsø corner chairs, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original corner chairs by Illum Wikkelsø were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in scandinavia during the 1960s. Prices for Illum Wikkelsø corner chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,484 and can go as high as $1,484, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,484.

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