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Mogens Koch Sofas

Danish, 1888-1993

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.

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Creator: Mogens Koch
Additional Chairs by Mogens Koch for Rud. Rasmussen
Additional Chairs by Mogens Koch for Rud. Rasmussen

Additional Chairs by Mogens Koch for Rud. Rasmussen

By Mogens Koch

Located in Copenhagen, DK

A pair of additional chairs by Mogens Koch. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen. Mahogany and black leather. The reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/COPENHAGEN/DENMARK.

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Mogens Koch Sofas

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

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Mogens Koch ‘Mk-16’ Safari Chair for Rud Rasmussen

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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...

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1940s Kaare Klint 3-Seat Sofa for Rud. Rasmussen, Denmark
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H 35.04 in W 79.93 in D 29.53 in

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Kaare Klint Sofa Model 5011 Original Cognac Leather for Rud Rasmussen Denmark
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Three-seater sofa model 5011 in original leather and eight-legged ash base. Produced by Rud. Rasmussen Cabinetmakers, Denmark. Minor marks on the frame, patina to the leather. Shown at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild exhibition in 1935. Kaare Klint is widely recognized as the father of Danish modern design. It is hard to overstate his influence. He developed an entirely new analytical approach to furniture design that his students at the Danish Academy of Art would emulate for years to come, yet was also inspired by historic designs from various cultures, modernizing and re-interpreting classic pieces for new generations. Literature: Gorm Harkær, Klintiana: “Kaare Klint”, vol.2, pg 94. Shipping services: Ask for our competitive shipping quote. Kaare Klint (1888-1954) is regarded as the founding father of Danish Modernim. As an architect, furniture designer and leading professor at the Department of Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Klint established the principles of modern Danish furniture by combining a profound appreciation of traditional construction techniques with a modernist emphasis on function and a rejection of ornaments. Klint’s design was always based on relentless research; he never compromised. Every piece had to fulfill its purpose, be completely clear in its construction with dimensions and proportions corresponding to the human body and display materials and craftsmanship of the highest quality. Logic, often using a mathematical system of measures, and a constructive way of thinking were the foundation of Klint’s philosophy of furniture design. Like many of his contemporaries, counting Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius, he advocated standardization and functional requirements and dismissed the use of all ornamentation. But Klint realized his vision in wood and leather, using traditional craftsmen and working methods and often finding inspiration in historical models. In this way, he charted the course for an alternative Nordic Functionalism that idealized the workshop and the collaboration between furniture architects and cabinetmakers as opposed to the factory. Kaare Klint’s first major work was a collaboration with his mentor, the architect Carl Petersen. In 1914 they were commissioned to design furniture and fixtures for Faaborg Art Museum. One of the highlights to emerge from this commission was the Faaborg chair, a light and elegant chair with clear references to classical furniture. The construction and proportions of an 18th century English Chippendale...

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Mid-Century  modern scandinavian chair Folding MK16 by Mogens Koch. New product.
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Previously Available Items
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A little two-seat sofa with frame of mahogany upholstered with natural leather Designed by Mogens Koch in 1936 and made at cabinetmaker Rud. Rasmussen, Denmark.  

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Mogens Koch, Sofa, White Fabric and Oak from Statshospitalet, Sønderborg, 1936
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A very early Scandinavian modernist sofa with a visual language so purely functionalist it could have been designed today. Designed by Mogens Koch as part of the City Hospital of Søn...

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Mogens Koch sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Mogens Koch sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Mogens Koch sofas, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sofas by Mogens Koch were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in scandinavia during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofas by A.P. Stolen, Fritz Hansen, and Ole Wanscher. Prices for Mogens Koch sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $9,185 and can go as high as $9,185, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,185.