Vintage Mogens Koch furniture endures as a sophisticated example of Scandinavian modernism in today’s homes. The award-winning mid-century Danish architect was known for his functional approach to furniture design and for prioritizing comfort and accessibility. While these are traits that we typically attribute to American mid-century modern design — as well as the coveted furnishings that originated in Scandinavian workshops — Koch also drew on older traditions and techniques. His chairs, tables and other items show the influence of the Shaker style and English pieces of the 18th century.
Koch was born in Copenhagen and attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, he worked as an assistant to Kaare Klint, an important figure in Danish modernism who was responsible for establishing the furniture design program at Koch’s alma mater. Klint favored historical styles and inspired Koch to view furniture design as an evolutionary process built on the traditions of the past. Over the course of their partnership, in the late 1920s, Koch began creating modular bookcases. Simple yet elegant, vintage Mogens Koch bookcase systems — which were over the years crafted in comely woods such as mahogany, oak and cherrywood — are all about versatility and flexibility, intended to be configured to fit rooms of all shapes and sizes.
In 1932, Rud Rasmussen began to produce Koch bookcase designs. An early Koch seating design that the Danish manufacturer made was the MK Safari chair, an unassuming folding chair based on traditional British campaign furniture. It greatly resembles Klint’s own Safari chair, which was designed in 1933 and was also inspired by military furniture. It became one of Koch’s signature armchairs. The seat inspired a series of folding furniture pieces, including tables that could collapse for storage.
In 1938, Koch was awarded the Eckersberg Medal from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He took an associate professor role at the school in 1940. In 1950, he became a full professor of architecture and continued teaching until 1968. The academy also awarded him their highest honor — the C.F. Hansen Medal — in 1963. Later in life, Koch won the 1990 Danish Design Center's Classic Award and the 1992 Industrial Design Prize.
On 1stDibs, you can find vintage Mogens Koch storage pieces, coffee tables and more.
Walnut Folding Chair MK16 Mogens Koch for Interna
By Mogens Koch
Located in Vienna, AT
Safair armchairs, frame made of walnut and upholstered in leather. The folding safari chair was originally designed in 1932 for a church seating contest. Probably too progressive, it...
Leather, Walnut
Teak Mogens Koch MK-16 Safari Chair
By Mogens Koch
Located in Montreal, QC
Teak Mogens Koch MK-16 Safari chair in rosewood foldable safari chair by Danish architect and designer Mogens Koch. These are re-editions by Interna of the ...
Rosewood
Oak Mogens Koch Occasional Armchair
By Mogens Koch
Located in Minneapolis, MN
An older and more traditional occasional chair in white oak and leather. Newly restored and in excellent condition. Design by Mogens Koch. Professional, skilled furniture restorati...
Brass
Mogens Koch Pair of Folding Chairs for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch pair of folding chairs in oak and leather. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brass
$2,200 / item
Mogens Koch Oak Armchairs for Sønderborg Hospital
By Mogens Koch
Located in Vienna, AT
Extremely rare armchairs, frame made of lacquered oak and upholstered in red artificial leather. Character as part of the original furniture to the State Hospital...
Patent Leather, Oak
Kaare Klint Red Chair for Rud Rasmussen, Denmark, 1950s
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kaare Klint & Rud Rasmussen Snedkerier - Scandinavian Modern design The iconic "The Red Chair" by Kaare Klint, model KK 3758A. Designed in 1927, executed in the 1950s by Rud. Rasmus...
Leather, Mahogany
Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen, Pair of Safari Chairs
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen. Pair of Safari chairs new upholstered with mokka aniline leather. New straps of butt hide leather. Frame in solid ash. Model Safari chair, made by Ru...
Leather, Ash
Mogens Koch ‘Mk-16’ Safari Chair for Rud Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Mogens Koch furniture designed a lot of award wining midcentury furniture. The Danish architect was known for his functional approach to furniture design and for prioritizing comfort and accessibility. Koch also drew on older traditions and techniques. His chairs and tables show the influence of the Shaker Style and Englisch pieces of the 18th century. Koch was born in Copenhagen and attended the Royal Danisch Academy of fine Arts. After graduating, he worked as an assistant to Kaare Klint, an important figure in Danish modernism who was responsible for establishing the furniture design program at Koch’s alma mater. Klint favored historical styles and inspired Koch to view furniture design as an evolutionary process built on the traditions of the past. Over the course of their partnership, in the late 1920s, Koch began creating modular bookcases. In 1932, Rud Rasmussen began to produce Koch designs. An early Koch seating design that the Danish manufacturer made was the MK Safari...
Leather, Beech
$537
H 37.8 in W 22.25 in D 23.63 in
English Oak circa 1940s Carver Occasional Armchair Lovely Timber Patina
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this nice vintage circa 1940s occasional carver armchair A nice piece that sits well in any setting. The arms are beautifully aged revealing the...
Oak
$3,339
H 87 in W 50 in D 50 in
Mid-Century modern scandinavian chair Folding MK16 by Mogens Koch. New product.
By Mogens Koch, GETAMA
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mogens Koch designed the MK16 Folding Chair for a supplemental church seating contest, reinterpreting the traditional folding stool by pairing easy fold...
Leather, Oak
$1,440Sale Price|58% Off
H 28.5 in W 26 in D 28.5 in
Vintage Arne Hovmand-Olsen for Mogens Kold Teak Lounge Chair-Denmark, 1960s
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lovely and dynamically-proportioned lounge or easy chair attributed to Arne Hovmand-Olsen and manufactured by Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik (metal manufacturer's stamp to underside) in sculpted teak and original boucle wool upholstery. Deeply patinated teak lends visual contrast against the off-white upholstery. Completely original condition down the the seat straps and brass hardware. Sophisticated seat cushion and backrest mounting system consisting of custom brass spacers which create a suspended effect to the panels keeping the design very airy and light. Hovmand-Olsen’s designs span seating, tables, and secretaries, all of which are characteristically simple in form with clean lines, organic curves, and tapered legs. Like many of his Danish contemporaries, he favored the use of high-quality, beautifully grained woods like teak and rosewood. Notable designs include his Model 175 chair (1955)—which is often mistaken for N.O. Møller’s Model 77 chair...
Brass
$1,574Sale Price|33% Off
H 31.5 in W 22.45 in D 22.84 in
Kaare Klint, Cognac Leather Safari Chair for Rud Rasmussen, 1960s
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Uppsala, SE
The legendary safari chair in cognac coloured leather on a very dark oak frame designed by the grandfather of Danish design, Kaare Klint, in 1933 for his long time collaborator Rud R...
Leather, Oak
Kaare Klint "Faaborg Chair" – Rud Rasmussen, 1950s
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Kastrup, DK
Kaare Klint (1888–1954) The Faaborg Chair was designed by Danish architect and furniture designer Kaare Klint (1888–1954) in 1914 as part of the interior for Faaborg Museum, dedicate...
Leather, Rattan, Mahogany
Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen, Pair of Safari Chairs
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen. Pair of Safari chairs new upholstered with vintage aniline leather. New straps of butt hide leather. Frame in solid ash. Model Safari chair, made...
Leather, Ash
Pair of Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold Lounge Chairs
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of Danish modern arm, lounge chairs designed by Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold. Selling and priced as a pair, in origi...
Arne Hovmand-Olsen Mogens Kold Dining Chair in Teak
By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Arne Hovmand-Olsen for Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, dining chair model 71, teak, Denmark, 1959 This sculptural dining chair is designed by the Dane Arne Hovmand-Olsen for Mogens Kold Mø...
Teak
$30,302
H 29.93 in W 49.22 in D 25.6 in
MK 52 - 2 pers. sofa in original patinated leather by Mogens Koch
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
MK 52/2 - 2-seater sofa in patinated, nailed natural leather with a mahogany frame. Designed by Mogens Koch, made by Rud Rasmussen Snedkerier.
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 35.04 in W 19.69 in D 21.26 in
Pair of MCM Mogens Koch ‘Mk-16’ Safari Chairs, Folding Directors, Danish, 1970s
By Mogens Koch
Located in Richmond, Surrey
Mid Century Pair of Mogens Koch ‘Mk-16’ Safari Chair, Folding Directors chair, Danish, 1970s Pair of vintage leather & teak folding Safari Chairs, Model ‘MK 16 Safari’ originally designed by Mogens Koch in 1932, reproduced by various companies over the years. Manufacturer unknown. Black leather seats and back rest, beautiful brass detail. Solid teak frame. A great looking pair of chairs. Danish, 1970s Condition: Good vintage condition Dimensions: 50 Cms Width x 54 Cms Depth x 89 Cms Height / Seat Height 46 Cms Height Mogens Koch: furniture designed a lot of award winning mid-century furniture. The Danish architect was known for his functional approach to furniture design and for prioritising comfort and accessibility. Koch also drew on older traditions and techniques. His chairs and tables show the influence of the Shaker Style and English pieces of the 18th century. Koch was born in Copenhagen and attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, he worked as an assistant to Kaare Klint, an important figure in Danish modernism who was responsible for establishing the furniture design programme at Koch’s alma mater. Klint favoured historical styles and inspired Koch to view furniture design as an evolutionary process built on the traditions of the past. Over the course of their partnership, in the late 1920s, Koch began creating modular bookcases. In 1932, Rud Rasmussen began to produce Koch designs. An early Koch seating design that the Danish manufacturer made was the MK Safari...
Brass
Mogens Koch Folding Chair
By Cado, Mogens Koch
Located in Kastrup, DK
Mogens Koch 1898 - 1992. Folding chair from Cado. Seat and back of light canvas, arm straps of grain leather. Designed 1932, Denmark.
Brass
Set of Two Folding Chairs by Mogens Koch
By Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
MK 16 - Instructor's chair / folding chair in mahogany, red leather and natural leather armrests. Mogens Koch / Rud. Rasmussen.
Leather, Mahogany
Folding Chairs by Mogens Koch / Rud. Rasmussen
By Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Instructor chairs/folding chairs in beech and canvas with leather armrests.
Beech
Sold
H 34.26 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Folding Safari / Directors Chair Mogens Koch MK-16 Interna, Denmark, 1960s
By Mogens Koch
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Beautifully patinated safari chair by Mogens Koch, manufactured in the 1960s.
Canvas
Mogens Koch Pair of Folding Chairs for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch pair of folding chairs in beech and vegetable-tanned leather. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brass
Pair of Mogens Koch 'MK 16' Foldable Armchairs, Denmark, 1932
By Interna, Mogens Koch
Located in Utrecht, NL
This pair of Mogens Koch’s “MK 16” armchairs are made of Brazilian wood and feature black leather seats, backs and armrests with a vertically foldable f...
Leather, Hardwood
Sold
H 34.26 in W 19.69 in L 34.26 in
Set of Four Folding Chairs, Model MK99200, Designed by Mogens Koch
By Mogens Koch
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of four folding chairs, model MK99200, designed by Mogens Koch. The chairs are of beech and light nature canvas.
Canvas, Beech
Folding Chair, Model MK99200, Designed by Mogens Koch, 1960s
By Mogens Koch
Located in Lejre, DK
Folding chair, model MK99200, designed by Mogens Koch in the 1932 and manufactured in the 1960s. The chair is of beech and have newly been upholstered with le...
Leather, Beech
Mogens Koch Set of Six Folding Chairs
By Interna, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch set of six folding chairs with rack. Executed by Interna, Denmark.
Brass
Mogens Koch Set of Six Folding Chairs for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch set of six folding chairs. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brass
Sold
H 33.86 in W 20.48 in D 18.9 in
1930s Mogens Koch MK-16 Safari Folding Chairs in Teak, Brass and Black Leather
By Mogens Koch, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Knebel, DK
Mogens Koch designed the folding chair in 1932 reinterpreting the traditional folding stool archetype by pairing easy folding functionality with modern aesthetics - but the chairs w...
Brass