Madsen & Schubell Leather Modular Corner Sofa, C. 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Madsen & Schubell (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 119 in (302.26 cm)Depth: 68 in (172.72 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Norwalk, CT
- Reference Number:Seller: TW 172442, 6751stDibs: LU2916343637842
Madsen & Schubell
A powerhouse duo in Danish furniture design throughout the mid-20th century, Henry Hans Schubell and Arnold Madsen collaborated as Madsen & Schubell with Dutch company Bovenkamp and Vik & Blindheim on a range of furnishings and created memorable lounge chairs, armchairs and other seating throughout the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s — such as the iconic Clam chair — that represent the finest of Scandinavian modern design.
Born in 1906, Schubell was an apprentice cabinetmaker turned foreman by his early 20s. As a supervisor for cabinetmakers Winter and Winding, Schubell oversaw furniture production in their workshop until the mid-1940s. In 1944, a skilled upholster by the name of Arnold Madsen requested assistance from a cabinetmaker to make a prototype lounge chair based on a plaster model he’d made. Accepting the challenge, Schubell impressed Madsen to the point that he suggested they enter into a partnership. The Clam chair was their first collaboration as Madsen & Schubell.
According to Aaron FitzGerald, of Dagmar gallery, Madsen’s Clam chair is “one of the most sought-after and simultaneously misattributed and copied chair designs of the twentieth century.” In the past, it was ascribed to the Norwegian retailer Martin Olsen and then the Danish architect Philip Arctander. It was only through some dogged research by a team of international design historians and collectors that it was finally correctly associated with Madsen.
In the backyard of a modest home in Copenhagen, Schubell built wooden frames which Madsen then upholstered. They sold their finished products to dealers under their joint name, earning enough money to move production to a factory outside the city. Some models were under license by Norwegian company Vik & Blindheim while others were manufactured by Bovenkamp in the Netherlands. The pair’s partnership ended in 1963 in order for the designers to establish separate companies. Madsen opened a new upholstery firm with his son, Ib Madsen, under the name Madsen og Schubell, and Schubell continued to build frames for Madsen as Schubell & Son. (At some point, Ib also traded under the name Ib Madsen and Acton Schubell.)
Vintage Madsen & Schubell chairs offer sturdy build quality and the kind of superior upholstery that is typical among mid-century Scandinavian furniture. Working with a range of woods including teak, rosewood and birch, Madsen and Schubell accented natural wood grains with soft lambswool and sheepskin for a variety of comfortable seating.
Find vintage Madsen & Schubell Clam chairs and other seating on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Norwalk, CT
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllMid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Pine
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Beech, Suede
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Wool, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Wool, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather, Teak
You May Also Like
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Leather, Beech
