Mid-Century Modern Arne Hovmand Olsen Danish Teak Set 6 Side Dining Chairs

Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, Arne Hovmand-Olsen created furnishings that boasted all of the alluring qualities now associated with vintage Scandinavian modern design. The esteemed Danish designer favored high-quality teak, oak and rosewood for his sideboards, chairs and dining tables. Elsewhere, Hovmand-Olsen’s side tables and credenzas feature elegant organic curves and tapered legs, while his graceful armchairs and dining chairs are characterized by slender frames and sculptural seat backs.

From an early age Hovmand-Olsen showed an interest in drawing and an aptitude for design. In 1938, he began his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker under Peder Olsen Sibast, the founder of Sibast furniture company. Owing largely to the creative direction of Peder’s son, designer Helge Sibast, during the mid-century era, the manufacturer is internationally revered today for its wide range of sleek and collectible modern furniture. 

In 1941, Hovmand-Olsen enrolled in a technical school to study furniture design, and opened his own workshop shortly after graduating. He created a range of furnishings for such notable manufacturers as Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Elven Geertsen and Jutex. He found success in Denmark, but attained even greater notability when he began selling his work in America.

Mid-century-era design from this region of the world — including objects like Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair, Alvar Aalto’s undulating Savoy vase and Tapio Wirkkala’s leaf-shaped birch-laminate tray — took off in the States after the Second World War, when Scandinavia’s simple, curvilinear wooden furniture, home goods and textiles suddenly seemed the perfect foil for glass-and-steel skyscrapers.

Hovmand-Olsen closed his workshop during the 1970s. Today his work is widely collected by enthusiasts of mid-century Scandinavian modern furniture.

Find vintage Arne Hovmand-Olsen seating, tables, storage pieces and other furniture on 1stDibs.

CFC Silkeborg, also known as C. F. Christensen Silkeborg, exemplifies the refreshingly simple beauty of mid-century modern Danish design. Established in the early 1950s in Silkeborg, Denmark, the furniture manufacturer was known for its clean-lined, functional and refined hardwood furniture. In partnership with talented Danish designers, CFC Silkeborg created many exquisite coffee tables, lounge chairs, credenzas and other types of furniture for the 20th-century home.

One of the most prominent and prolific CFC Silkeborg collaborations was with acclaimed designer Johannes Andersen, who worked with the company in the 1950s and 1960s. Anderson’s elevated Scandinavian modern designs were practical and compact yet characterized by organic curves and graceful lines. Some of Anderson’s most popular creations for CFC Silkeborg include his nesting tables and the playful Smile coffee table, which features a center pocket shelf that looks like an upturned mouth.

In the 1960s, CFC Silkeborg worked with designer Henning Korch. Korch captured Danish design sensibilities with his thoughtfully built furniture, which had a distinctive flair from details like beveled edges and brass drawer handles. For CFC Silkeborg, Korch designed furniture such as cocktail tables, bar carts, bar cabinets and dressers.

CFC Silkeborg also had a long collaborative relationship with Danish furniture designer Illum Wikkelsø. Wikkelsø was inspired by the straight lines of modern style and the curves of the Danish landscape. From the 1950s to the 1980s, he created many tables, armchairs and sofas for CFC Silkeborg. Comfortable and inviting elegance characterizes this upholstered leather seating.

Vintage CFC Silkeborg furniture by Andersen, Korch and Wikkelsø continues to be sought after due to its exceptional build quality and timeless appeal.

On 1stDibs, find CFC Silkeborg tables, seating, case pieces and more.