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.
Set of 4 MK16 Folding Safari Chairs by Mogens Koch for Cado, Denmark
By Mogens Koch, Cado
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 MK16 folding Safari chairs designed in 1932 by Mogens Koch and produced in 1960's by Cado, Denmark. Stained beech wood, leather, brass and new canvas upholstery.
Brass
$3,297
H 87 in W 50 in D 50 in
Mid-Century modern scandinavian chair Folding MK16 by Mogens Koch. New product.
By GETAMA, Mogens Koch
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
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
$5,756 / set
H 31.11 in W 21.26 in D 19.69 in
Set of 6 Poul Cadovius Dining Chairs for Cado, Denmark, 1959
Located in Brecht, BE
A very comfortable set of dining room chairs, 4 chairs and 2 armchairs, dimensions of the chairs H 79/45 x W 54 x D 50 cm, dimensions of th...
Fabric, Teak
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
$2,158
H 34.26 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Chair Folding MK16 by Mogens Koch, New Product
By GETAMA, Mogens Koch
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...
Fabric, Oak
Mogens Koch MK16 Folding Safari Chair for Cado, Denmark
By Cado, Mogens Koch
Located in Barcelona, ES
MK16 folding Safari chair designed in 1932 by Mogens Koch and produced in 1960's by Cado, Denmark. Stained beech wood, leather, brass and new canvas upholstery.
Brass
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
$6,600 / set
H 31.5 in W 19.89 in D 21.07 in
Set of Six Ole Wanscher Dining Chairs for CADO, Denmark 1960s
By Cado, Ole Wanscher
Located in Utrecht, NL
Ole Wanscher was a leading figure in Danish and Scandinavian design, as was his mentor, the legendary Kaare Klint, renowned to be the “father” of modern Danish furniture design. Toge...
Fabric, Wood
$719 / set
H 29.14 in W 18.9 in D 19.69 in
Steen Ostergaard Model 290 Pair of Red Chair for Cado, 1970
By Steen Ostergaard, Cado
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Steen Ostergaard model 290 red plastic stacking chairs manufactured by Cado, 1970. Set of 2. With some scratches and marks.
Plastic
$1,618 / set
H 32.68 in W 22.05 in D 20.87 in
Pair Mogens Koch MK-16 Folding Chair in Oak Wood with Red Leather for Valmazan
By Valmazan, Mogens Koch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful made pair Folding Chairs (model MK-16) after the design of Mogens Koch. These examples where manufactured by Valmazan, Spain and features a stained oak frame with brass det...
Brass
$2,158 / set
H 29.93 in W 20.48 in D 18.9 in
Set of Four Steen Østergaard Dining Chairs A-Line 290, CADO, Denmark, 1960s.
By Cado, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type - stackable - marked - space age era
Faux Leather, Plastic
$26,400
H 42.52 in W 25.4 in D 33.08 in
Mogens Koch for K. Ivan Schlechter 'Fireside' Wingback Chair with Ottoman
By Mogens Koch
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mogens Koch for K. Ivan Schlechter, 'fireside' wingback lounge chair and ottoman, model MK50, mahogany, leather, Denmark, design 1936, production 1964-1979. Mogens Koch's wingback c...
Leather, Mahogany
MK 16 Set of six chairs by Mogens Koch
By Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
MK 16 - Set of 6 instructor/folding chairs in mahogany and canvas with brass details. Mogens Koch / Rud. Rasmussen.
Leather, Canvas, Mahogany
Sold
H 34 in W 22.5 in D 21.5 in
Danish Folding Campaign Chairs Model Mk 16, a Set of Six by Mogens Koch
By Mogens Koch, Interna Denmark
Located in Portland, OR
Set of six with stand. Classic design canvas and beech construction MK16 folding chairs by architect Mogens Koch. This set dates to the 1970s. In fantastic hardly used condition. Dim...
Brass
Mogens Koch Occasional Folding Safari Chairs
By Mogens Koch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice set of Danish modern design quality made canvas and wood has been cleaned without taking away from its' historical integrity brass hardware has original patina leather armr...
Brass
Sold
H 31 in W 25 in D 20.5 in
Arne Hovmand Olsen Rosewood Dinning Chair Set for Mogens Kold, Denmark, 1950s
By Mogens Koch, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arne Hovmand Olsen rosewood dinning chair set for Mogens Kold, Denmark, 1950s An exquisite set of 6 solid rosewood dining chairs designed by Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold Mobelfab...
Faux Leather, Rosewood
Sold
H 34.26 in W 22.05 in D 20.48 in
Mogens Koch MK-16 Directors / Safari Chairs, Rud Rasmussen, Denmark, 1960s
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A stunning set of six rare leather Mogens Koch MK-16 folding safari chairs, produced by Rud Rasmussen, Denmark, 1960s. Originally designed in 1932 this chair wasn't produced commerci...
Leather, Beech
Sold
H 34.26 in W 22.05 in D 20.48 in
Mogens Koch MK-16 Directors / Safari Chair for Interna, Denmark, 1960s
By Mogens Koch, Interna Denmark
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Mogens Koch MK-16 Safari chair for Interna, Denmark, 1960s. Originally designed in 1932 this chair wasn't produced commercially until the 1960s. The chair h...
Leather, Beech
Set of Six Folding Safari Chairs by Mogens Koch
By Mogens Koch
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of six canvas covered folding safari chairs with brass hardware and storage rack. Designed by Mogens Koch. Newer production.
Set of 6 rosewood dining chairs by Arne Hovmand-Olsen
By Mogens Koch, Arne Hovmand-Olsen
Located in Highland, IN
This exceptional set of six Arne Hovmand-Olsen dining chairs were crafted of rosewood by Mogens Koch and date from the late 1950s. They are model #175 and #176 respectively. The des...
Rosewood, Leather