Rare Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Pair of ‘Safari’ Armchairs

About the Item

Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik, pair of ‘Safari’ armchairs model 2221, saddle leather, oak, brass, Denmark, 1960s This rare pair of armchairs reminds of the classical foldable 'director-chairs', yet this design by Danish designer Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) is from a more sturdy character. Almost as a trademark of Mogensen these chairs are executed in solid oak, with seating and back from thick cognac saddle leather. The lines and forms are simple, yet with the right amount of tension. The cognac leather is in good condition. The brass connections and straps on the back enriches the saddle leather in a vigorous manner. An all-over patina is visible on the natural leather. With the presence of spots, scratches and traces, this pair carries real uniqueness and distinctiveness. Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) was a Danish designer. His designs are defined by being high-quality, simple and functional. Mogensen can be seen as a democratic and idealistic designer. He aimed to solve basic problems in residential living. This meant that he designed for the middle-class and everyday use instead of for the more exclusive costumer. Contrary to his contemporaries in other countries such as Le Corbusier, Mogensen did not work with new modern materials such as steel and glass. Instead he chose to work with tested materials such as leather and wood. Being trained by Kaare Klint, he was very focussed on the human body and his ideal was to create comfortable furniture, not furniture that would end up in a museum. His designs are therefore honest, functional, simple and production friendly. Mogensen was extremely productive: hundreds of his designs went into production in his lifetime. Please note that these chairs are in good, used condition.

Creator:

Børge Mogensen (Designer),Fredericia Stolefabrik (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 24.81 in (63 cm)Depth: 22.05 in (56 cm)Seat Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 2

Style:

Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Brass,Leather,Oak

Place of Origin:

Denmark

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1960s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Every item Morentz offers is checked by our team of 30 craftsmen in our in-house workshop. Special restoration or reupholstery requests can be done. Check ‘About the item’ or ask our design specialists for detailed information on the condition.

Seller Location:

Waalwijk, NL

Reference Number:

Seller: 501119361stDibs: LU933136672772

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Børge Mogensen

Among the great mid-20th century Danish furniture designers, Børge Mogensen distinguished himself with his faith to traditional values of craftsmanship and honesty of materials.

While peers such as Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl and Arne Jacobsen designed some of the most striking and now iconic furnishings of the era, Mogensen focused on making pieces that were simple, durable and comfortable — and in the long run perhaps more useful and better loved.

Mogensen studied under and later worked for Kaare Klint, a master cabinetmaker whose chief tenets were quality of construction and simplicity of line. Klint was a classicist, who believed that furniture forms should evolve from those of historical models. So, too, in his way was Mogensen, as two of his best-known earlier pieces attest. His 1945 Spokeback Sofa, with hinged arms that can be lowered to facilitate lounging, is a reinterpretation of the venerable Knole settee. With the oval silhouette of its plywood backrest and waterdrop-shaped cutouts, Mogenson’s Shell chair, designed in 1949, can be seen as a novel take on early 19th century Empire side chairs.

Yet Mogensen shared the aesthetical sensibilities of his most forward-looking colleagues. His cabinets deploy the same spare geometries and lushly figured woods as those of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his disciple Florence Knoll, the chief difference being that Mies and Knoll used chrome steel for the frames and legs of their pieces. The brawny oak frames and slung leather seats and backrests of Mogensen’s Hunting chair (1950) and Spanish chair (1958) display the same hefty construction and appreciation of natural materials seen in the work of Charlotte Perriand and Sergio Rodrigues.

As you will see from the furnishings on 1stDibs, Børge Mogensen designed for function more than sculptural effect. While his chairs may not be the first pieces in a décor to draw the eye, they are often the first to draw in those looking for a comfortable seat.