One of the most significant architects in Denmark’s history and a pioneer of Danish functionalism in Scandinavian, mid-century modern furniture, Vilhelm Lauritzen maintained a lifelong belief that design is an art for the people.
Born in the town of Slagelse in 1894, Lauritzen had an early interest in architecture and design. He graduated from the Sorø Akademi in 1912 and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1922. That year, Lauritzen founded the Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects studio.
Travel to Spain, Greece and throughout Central Europe influenced his architectural work. His first major project was in 1928, when he designed the Daell’s Department Store in Copenhagen. Subsequent notable design projects included the Nørrebro Theater in 1931, the Radiohuset building in 1936 and Copenhagen Airport’s first terminal in 1939, inspired by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier.
Although architecture was among Lauritzen’s chief passions — he was also an avid lepidopterist — he was keenly interested in the furnishings of his projects, designing everything from chairs and settees to door handles and ashtrays. His influential creations include the iconic VL 38 “Radiohus” table and the VL 45 “Radiohus” pendant light — a powerful downward light that provides a gentle illumination through handblown, white opal glass. Both were designed for Danish furniture manufacturer Louis Poulsen in collaboration with Danish designer Finn Juhl. Vilhelm Lauritzen’s lamps and wall sconces, which have obliquely angled lamp heads, were likewise designed in partnership with Poulsen for the Radiohuset building in the 1930s.
Lauritzen remained active in his studio until 1969, overseeing numerous architecture projects in the 1950s, such as the Shellhuset building, Folkets Hus — known today as the VEGA concert hall — and the Danish Embassy in Washington, DC.
Lauritzen died in 1984. His legacy lives on with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects still operating in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district, and his elegant lamps remain in production by Louis Poulsen.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Vilhelm Lauritzen lighting, seating, tables and more.
'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Lacquered Oak Chrome & Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Lacquered Oak Chrome & Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitment t...
Chrome
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son. The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm comm...
Brass
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Steel, Oak & Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Steel, Oak & Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commi...
Steel
Musician Chairs with Adjustable Seat and Back in Oak by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1942
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Musician Chairs with Adjustable Seat and Back in Oak, Brass and Niger Leather by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1942 Additional Information: Material: Oak, brass a...
Brass
Pair of Very Rare Vilhelm Lauritzen Music Chair , Denmark
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Praha, CZ
- Oak wood, brass and fabric - Creation date: 1942 Music chair - Model designed for the National Broadcasting House - Copenhagen - good original condition - sturdy and stable - nee...
Brass
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Lacquered Oak & Chrome for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Lacquered Oak & Chrome for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitmen...
Chrome
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oiled Oak and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oiled Oak and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitm...
Brass
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Oak with Black Frame for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Oak with Black Frame for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm c...
Steel
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm comm...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oiled Oak and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oiled Oak and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitme...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Soaped Oak and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Soaped Oak and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commit...
Brass
'Musician's chair' with frame in patinated oak by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
'Musician's chair' with a frame in patinated oak and an adjustable seat and back in patinated niger leather. Designed in 1942 by Vilhelm Lauritzen.
Leather, Oak
$6,400 / set
H 29.93 in W 20.08 in D 7.45 in
Italian Chairs in Fabric and Chrome by Giovanni Carini for Planula
By Planula, Giovanni Carini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Mid-Century Chrome and Fabric Chairs This set of six “Libellula” chairs—named after the dragonfly—was designed by Giovanni Carini for Planula in the 1970s. These chairs embo...
Chrome
$679 / item
H 28.75 in W 21.66 in D 20.08 in
Wishbone Chair Model CH24 By Hans J. Wegner For Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Lejre, DK
The Wishbone chairs, model CH24, designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Son, are exemplary pieces of Scandinavian Modern furniture. Crafted from black painted w...
Papercord, Wood
$9,369 / set
H 29.14 in W 21.66 in D 20.87 in
Hans J. Wegner Set of Early Production Carl Hansen & Sons Wishbone Chairs, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen
Located in Odense, DK
A rare set of 6 model "CH-24" / "Wishbone" chairs from the early years of the Carl Hansen & Sons production of Hans J. Wegner iconic chair. The chairs have an amazing deep patina to ...
Papercord, Oak
Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn 'Sawbuck' Dining Chair in Teak
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn, 'Sawbuck' dining chair, model CH29, teak, beige fabric, Denmark, design 1952 Hans Wegner's chair exemplifies a solid construction, despite its...
Fabric, Teak
Rare pair of Gio Ponti chairs
By Gio Ponti
Located in Albany, NY
Item: pair of chairs Designer: Gio Ponti Manufacturer: I.S.A. Bergamo Demensions: 35.25” h x 16.25” w x22.5” d. 18” seat height Material: Mahogany, metal sabots and upholstery ...
Mahogany
$4,056 / set
H 31.89 in W 15.36 in D 15.36 in
Very Rare Set of Baumann "Clovers" Chairs, France, 1960s–1970s
By Baumann France
Located in Tourinnes-la-Grosse (Beauvechain), BE
A striking and exceptionally rare set of mid-century French chairs, designed and manufactured by Baumann in the 1960s–1970s. Known as the "Clovers" model for their distinctive clover...
Wood, Beech
$1,599
H 38.98 in W 20.08 in D 15.36 in
Rustic Ladder-Back Oak Chairs with Embroidered Seats, Netherlands, 1950s
Located in Rīga, LV
Set of four rustic ladder-back chairs with embroidered seats.
Fabric, Oak
Very Rare 276s Chair by Verner Panton
Located in Munich, DE
Tri dimensional bent plywood with original white lacquer.
Plywood
Woodard Chair with Orange Seat and Back Pad
By Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Unusual metal frame chair with orange vinyl pad seats. Please view the matching large sofa we have listed from this stylish set. Attributed to Woodard Furniture.
Wrought Iron
$4,713 / set
H 29.34 in W 18.51 in D 16.15 in
Hans J. Wegner CH23 Oak Dining Chairs with Woven Seats by Carl Hansen & Søn 196
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Model CH23 dining chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn in the 1960s. These early examples are crafted from oak with woven seats. — Designer: H...
Oak
$5,701 / set
H 29.93 in W 21.66 in D 20.08 in
Hans J. Wegner CH24 Wishbone Chairs by Carl Hansen & Søn, Denmark, Set of 5
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Exceptional set of 5 original CH24 Wishbone Chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949 and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn, Denmark. First introduced in 1950, the CH24—better known as ...
Papercord, Oak
$8,357 / set
H 28.35 in W 19.69 in D 16.93 in
Hans J. Wegner CH24 Oak Dining Chairs with Woven Seats by Carl Hansen & Søn
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Lejre, DK
Model CH24 dining chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn in the 1950s. These early models are crafted from oak with woven seats. — Designer: Han...
Oak
Sold
H 32.29 in W 16.93 in D 22.05 in
Pair of Danish adjustable orchestra musician chairs with backrests
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in DK
This pair of very rare chairs was designed in 1942 by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the iconic Radiohuset building in Copenhagen. They are designed for the musicians / the orchestra. They ha...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen Musician Chair Produced in Denmark
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare musician chair with adjustable seat and back designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen. Produced in Denmark.
Brass
Rare Chair by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Radiohuset, Denmark, 1940s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Vilhelm Lauritzen - Fritz Hansen - Radiohuset - Scandinavian Modern A chair in bent beech designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Radiohuset, National Broadcasting House, in Copenhagen. T...
Beech
Sold
H 32.68 in W 17.33 in D 20.87 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen Musician Chair in Oak, Designed for Radiohuset, Denmark, 1950s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare chair was designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the iconic Radiohuset building in Copenhagen in the 1950s. The chair was specifically designed for the orchestra musicians to be...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen Radiohuset Chair
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in London, GB
Chair in bent and laminated beech designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Radiohuset in Copenhagen. The Danish architect designed the building as well as the interiors, for which he collab...
Beech