Kaare Klint Sofa Model 4118 in Leather and Mahogany

About the Item

Kaare Klint for Rud.Rasmussen, sofa #4118, made with leather and mahogany, Denmark. Designed in 1930's, we cant pinpoint the exact production date of this sofa. Kaare Klint originally designed the present three-seat sofa, known as 4118, for the office of the Prime Minister Throvald Stauning (1873-1942) in 1930 and was manufactured by Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier. This sofa embodies the quintessential essence of Danish design with its understated simplicity and elegant appearance. The construction is comprised of a considerably high back and armrests that are contrasted by the low-positioned seat, contributing to the unit’s grand and sophisticated look. The armrests have been contoured with smooth, rounded corners. The base consists of eight rectangular-shaped legs that are connected via cross-connections. This constructive feature brings more stability to the sofa and, subsequently, creates a dynamic rhythm. The frame showcases its authentic new cognac leather, characterized by some patina. Dimensions: 78.25 w x 30 d in x 34 h About the Designer: Recognized as the father of modern Danish design, Kaare Klint (1888-1954) designed icons such as the 1914 Faaborg Chair and the 1933 Safari Chair, as well as the design for the reception room of the Danish Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. As the son of architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, Kaare Klint was immersed in architecture from an early age, but made his mark on Danish design history as a furniture designer and educator. In 1924, he helped establish the Department of Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. As associate professor and later professor, he inspired some of the greatest Danish furniture designers and architects – including Hans J. Wegner, Mogens Koch, Arne Jacobsen and Poul Kjærholm, Børge Mogensen – who would continue shaping the Golden Age of Danish design from the early 1940s. Today, Klint is regarded as a reformer: as one of the first designers to put functionalism and the practical study of architecture and furniture design principles above style, he redefined a period otherwise characterized by style-focused academic teaching. He was an outspoken critic of Hans Wegner's and Finn Juhl departure from his rational modernism. Klint had an outstanding sense of proportion and space, and created “human furniture” based on studies of the human body. He studied an object’s uses over its form, and renewed Danish furniture design by refining tradition and developing objects perfectly in relation to their primary purpose. Klint was also aware of designs’ relationship to its environment, insisting his pieces never dominate a space, but unite form and function for a greater whole. In all his work, he insisted on clear, logical design, clean lines, the best materials, and superb craftsmanship. Klint earned many accolades, including the Eckersberg Medal in 1928 and the C.F. Hansen Medal in 1954. In 1949, he became an Honorary Royal Designer for Industry in London.34995

Creator:

Kaare Klint (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 78.25 in (198.76 cm)

Style:

Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Leather,Mahogany

Period:

1930-1939

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1930s

Condition:

Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. We have ensured that this incredible sofa is structurally sound. We repaired the wood struts and touched up the color and sealed with a lacquer top coat.

Seller Location:

San Diego, CA

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU6417239265892

View Invoice

Shop All Kaare Klint

Kaare Klint

Architect, teacher and furniture designer Kaare Klint is among the most important figures in Scandinavian modernism. Widely recognized as the father of modern Danish furniture, Klint sought to pay homage to historical furniture styles and prized functionality as essential to designing for modern living. He established the design school at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and his students became mid-century legends of cabinetry and furniture-making.

Klint prioritized functionalism and drew on an array of influences in his own work. Furniture experts will observe the influence of 18th-century English seating in his Red chair, while Klint’s iconic Safari chair had roots in campaign furniture. The other exemplary chairs, sofas and tables for which he is known bear the mark of Thomas Chippendale and Biedermeier furniture as well as Greek and Roman forms.

Klint's father was Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, a formidable architect of his day. The younger Klint initially followed in his father’s footsteps, studying under him as well as distinguished architect Carl Petersen. Alongside Danish architect Ivar Bentsen, he headed the renovation of the Designmuseum Denmark in Copenhagen from 1920–26 (Klint also furnished the institution as part of the project). Around the same time, Klint helped found the furniture design school at the Royal Danish Academy. The impact of his role as an instructor there cannot be overstated — he mentored such esteemed cabinetmakers and furniture designers as Børge Mogensen, Hans Wegner and Ole Wanscher.

A prominent advocate of ergonomics, Klint valued comfort and functionality over style. Painstaking research went into each piece of sophisticated yet wholly unadorned furniture he designed, as he endeavored to build structures that took into consideration human proportions and scale. And like the Shakers, Klint believed that quality craftsmanship and good materials were integral to the design of durable furniture that was free of embellishment.

The humble grace of Klint’s style characterizes legendary seating designs that continue to charm today’s legions of mid-century modern enthusiasts. His Safari chair, Faaborg chair, Ravenna armchair and Propeller stool — as well as most of the seating created by Danish modernists generally — have warmed interiors and influenced furniture designers all over the world.

Find vintage Kaare Klint furniture and other Scandinavian modern furniture on 1stDibs.