Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen "FD144" Easy Chair, Denmark, 1953
About the Item
- Creator:Peter Hvidt (Designer),Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33.08 in (84 cm)Width: 25.4 in (64.5 cm)Depth: 28.55 in (72.5 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1953
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. Re-upholstered in premium bouclé fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
- Seller Location:Utrecht, NL
- Reference Number:
Peter Hvidt
One half of the influential Danish furniture duo Hvidt and Mølgaard, architect and designer Peter Hvidt created shapely works in teak and rosewood that could be mass-produced and transported at a scale rarely seen before his time. Alongside his business partner, Aalborg-born designer Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, the pair crafted furniture which stands today as a masterclass in the combination of elegance and practicality that is typical of Scandinavian modernism.
Hvidt was born in Copenhagen in 1916. He studied architecture and cabinetry, and graduated from the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Hvidt established his own design firm in 1940 and taught for three years at his former school, during which he designed the teak Portex chair — Denmark’s first stacking chair (this design has alternatively been attributed to Hvidt’s partnership with Mølgaard-Nielsen over the years).
The exceptional collaboration between Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen took shape in 1944. A student of pioneering Danish modernist designer and architect Kaare Klint and fellow graduate of the School of Arts and Crafts, Mølgaard brought his technical prowess and eye for practical design to the partnership. Together, for more than three decades, Hvidt and Mølgaard would produce over 250 furniture designs, a legacy that included the iconic AX chair.
A masterpiece of technical expertise and innovative woodworking, the sculptural AX armchair was designed in collaboration with manufacturer Fritz Hansen during the late 1940s. It features double-curved laminated wood in the seat and back, and is an early example of knock-down furniture. This meant that it could be easily dismantled and assembled at its destination, which rendered the chair economical for transport on cargo ships and therefore could reach a worldwide audience. The AX went into production in 1950 and eventually gave way to a series that featured tables and other seating.
Hvidt’s proclivity for forward-looking design was typical of the venturesome furniture makers of the mid-century modern era. This extended to textures and materials, too — he believed that a tasteful combination of materials could add character and visual intrigue. With Mølgaard-Nielsen, Hvidt designed streamlined coffee tables, rosewood chairs upholstered with sumptuous black leather and teak side tables with cane shelves (teak was a sought-after material for designers at the time).
The duo’s work with celebrated manufacturers Fritz Hansen, France & Søn and Søborg Møbelfabrik has been a part of exhibitions at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen’s Design Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Peter Hvidt seating, tables and case pieces.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Utrecht, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Armchair "Model 1748" for Fritz HansenBy Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter HvidtLocated in Utrecht, NLPeter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen’s design language operates as a set of relations linking the everyday world - composed of objects, spaces, people - to the cultural ideologies t...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen 3-Seat Sofa for Fritz Hansen, Denmark 1940sBy Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Fritz HansenLocated in Utrecht, NLOrla Mølgaard-Nielsen's significant work has been mainly carried out together with his partner, fellow Danish architect-designer, Peter Hvidt, but the designer’s earlier models -like...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Danish Easy Chair with Beech Legs, Denmark 1940sLocated in Utrecht, NLDanish design emerged as a prominent contributor to the Scandinavian design philosophy with many of the designers that are most well-known from the mid-20th century hailing from Denm...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood, Beech
- Danish Upholstered Easy Chair with Stained Beech Frame, Denmark, 1950sLocated in Utrecht, NLDanish design is a remarkable combination of concern for comfort and materiality melded with a desire for Shaker-like clarity. Most notably, the vintage pieces of the 1950s, like thi...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Ash Wood Danish Cabinetmaker Easy Chair, Denmark, ca 1950sLocated in Utrecht, NLThrough a myriad of changes in styles and preferences, the various iterations of what has come to be called Danish Modern have managed to go on “speaking” to consumers, collectors, a...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBouclé, Wood
- Frits Henningsen Easy Chairs with Fluted Legs, Denmark, 1940sBy Frits HenningsenLocated in Utrecht, NL‘Danish master cabinetmaker’ or “snedkermester” has become a commonly used term for Danish furniture makers, even though the expression is quite exclusive and only applies to certain craftsmen. Frits Henningsen is justly one of the most renowned master cabinetmakers, with this pair of easy chairs illustrating why. The typical elements of Danish modern furniture, the straight lines, the clear design, had developed with time, starting on the long path from the historical style that was still predominant in the 1920s. Architect and furniture maker, Frits Henningsen had a significant role in paving this path. As an active member of the Cabinetmakers Guild from 1927, he was admired by his peers for the high quality of his craftsmanship. The shape of this chair model shows Henningsen’s opposition to the younger designers in the 1940s who preferred strictly straight lines. Henningsen on the other hand, believed furniture design needed to maintain curvature which contributed to a homely look. These easy chairs were designed in this period and feature the uncompromising designer’s personal...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Fauteuil en teck modèle “FD144”, Peter Hvidt et Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, 1950By Peter HvidtLocated in Bruxelles, BEFauteuil en teck, design de Peter Hvidt et Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen pour France & Daverkosen, années 1950. Accoudoirs en bois courbé avec assise et dossier vel...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Armchairs
MaterialsTeak
- Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen Portex Easy Chairs, 1944By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter HvidtLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantFantastic pair of easy chairs designed by Peter Hvidt (Designer) and Orla Molgaar Nielsen (Architect and Designer) for Portex, Denmark 1944. This chair was originally designed as stacking armchair for dining...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
- FD 130 Armchair by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, 1960By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter HvidtLocated in Barcelona, ESArmchair model FD 130 designed in 1960 by danish designers Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for France & Daverkosen, Denmark. Early edition in hardwood with new upholstery in Kvad...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Hardwood
- Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen Lounge Chair FD-145By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, France & Daverkosen, John Stuart, Peter HvidtLocated in New York, NYPeter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen Lounge Chair model "FD 145". A spindle back lounge chair By Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen produced in Denmark by France & Daverkosen. A ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTextile, Oak, Teak
- Peter Hvidt& Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen FD146 Cane Back Easy Chair, DenmarkBy France & Daverkosen, Hvidt & MølgaardLocated in The Hague, NLA Classic design by one of Denmark's greatest furniture design pairings in history- Hvidt & Mølgaard manufactured by France & Daverkosen in 1960's Denmark. Model number- 146, the cha...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Rattan, Teak
- Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Long ChairBy France & Søn, Peter HvidtLocated in North Hollywood, CABeautiful Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen easy chair for France & Daverkosen made in Denmark, circa 1950s. This stunning chair was designed with the highest quality of teak. The ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsTeak, Bentwood