J. L. Møller Teak Extendable Dining Table with 6 Niels Koefoeds Dining Chairs

Niels Koefoed’s furniture is a demonstration of mastery through dedication. The Danish designer devoted himself to creating dining room furniture in mid-century modern and Scandinavian modern styles. Koefoed was best known for his elegant dining room chairs and exquisite dining room tables that he designed to accompany them. His use of hardwoods, like teak, rosewood and cherry, ensured that each piece retained its charm and beauty.

Koefoed was born into a family in the furniture design and manufacturing business. His father, Einar Koefoed, had opened a furniture factory in Hornslet, Denmark, in the 1920s. Hornslet was a furniture town that was home to upholstery and cabinet companies. Koefoed’s Møbelfabrik, the Koefoed family factory, specialized in fine furniture. Over the 1950s and 60s, the company became widely recognized for Niels Koefoed’s popular dining room chairs.

One of Koefoed’s first designs to receive significant attention was the 1957 Peter dining chair. The chair’s appeal lay in its refreshingly light and minimalistic style, with a comfortable curved back and leather seat. Koefoed reportedly named the chair after his son.

In 1964, Koefoed created his most iconic design: the Eva dining chair, named for one of his daughters. He described the tall and graceful chair as feminine, with full hips and narrow shoulders. The chair continues to be in high demand today. It was part of a series of dining chairs named after important women in Koefoed’s life, the other two being the Ingrid chair, also named for a daughter, and the Lis chair. Together, the chairs were known as the “three lovely girls.”

In 2004, Koefoed’s Møbelfabrik relocated to Thailand and continued manufacturing furniture. However, many of the company’s classic mid-century designs, including the Peter and Eva chairs, are today reproduced by the Danish company CASØ Furniture.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Niels Koefoed seating, tables and more.

Family-owned and operated since its inception, furniture manufacturer J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik is known to collectors for its impeccably crafted vintage chairs, dining tables and more. Its production of elegant, built-to-last furniture that favors pared-back functional forms over ornamentation has earned the company an international reputation as a leading manufacturer of Scandinavian modern furniture.

J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik was founded in 1944 by noted furniture designer Niels Otto Møller. Hailed as one of the most influential pioneers of Danish furniture design, Møller trained as a cabinetmaker before going on to study design in his hometown of Åarhus, Denmark. Here he founded J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik and designed his first chair, the aptly named No.1. In 1961, owing to high demand, the company moved their production headquarters to their plant in Højbjerg, Denmark, where they remain to this day. Møller’s company gained renown initially for their dining chairs but eventually became an important name in the manufacture of other household furnishings including armchairs, credenzas and dining room tables.

While J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik streamlined and modernized the production of their furniture over the years, much of their fabrication process still adheres to time-honored traditions. Their furniture is built from sturdy, durable materials such as rosewood and teak (the latter came to define the simple shapes of mid-century modern design). Many of their most iconic designs, including their Model 77 chair, still incorporate handmade features such as woven seats.

Vintage J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik furniture remains as popular today as it was at the height of the mid-century modern period. After Møller’s death in 1982, control of the company was handed down through his family. It is now led by his granddaughter, Kirsten Møller, who strives to uphold her grandfather’s vision. The original designs of Niels Otto Møller, including his legendary Model 78 chair, remain in production today.

Furniture produced by J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik can be found in prestigious institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. The company was awarded the Danish Furniture Industry Prize in 1981.

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik seating, tables and storage cabinets.