BM0699 Asserbo Bench with Back in Dark Oil Stained Eucalyptus Wood *Quickship*

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 chairs, sofas and other 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, Mogensen’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.

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.

Find vintage Børge Mogensen dining tables, bookcases and other Scandinavian modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

At Carl Hansen & Søn, we believe that iconic design is a combination of simplicity, aesthetics and functionality brought to life through skillful work with the highest quality materials. For over 100 years, we have specialized in providing the outstanding furniture craftsmanship that brings visionary design concepts to life. Through the years, Carl Hansen & Søn has maintained a strong focus on preserving Danish design classics while continuing to expand out collection to represent influential new designers. Our goal: to gather the best, most iconic modern furniture under one roof. Carl Hansen & Søn’s evolution has been deeply influenced by our long-term relationship with one of the greatest designers of all time: Hans J. Wegner. The creative partnership began in 1949, when Wegner developed a successful furniture series exclusively for Carl Hansen & Søn, which included the now-iconic CH24 Wishbone Chair. We also produce important works by the renowned mid-century Danish masters such as Wegner, Børge Mogensen, Ole Wanscher, Frits Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Kaare Klint, and Poul Kjæarholm, and contemporary designers such as Tadao Ando, EOOS and Brad Ascalon.