THE MASTERS
A tradition of craftsmanship
A distinctive feature of furniture making in Denmark in the 20th Century was the close collaboration between architects and craftsmen, a collaboration characterized by mutual respect and a striving towards the perfect harmony of workmanship, form and function. Danish Modernism did not break with the traditions of the past but evolved out of a proud handicraft tradition, as it reached its greatest heights by combining new idioms with a traditional partiality for wood and the meticulous care of fine craftsmanship.
As the new ideas of Functionalism swept through the Western world in the 1920s, the late industrialized Denmark adapted to the values of the workshop, causing a renewal and extension of the cabinetmaking tradition, rather than an industrial turn. As a result, the dedication to craftsmanship and devotion to materials remained intact in Danish furniture making even as times were changing and new idioms were introduced. However, the cabinetmaking profession was threatened, as the industrialization of the 1920s caused an increased import of cheap, mass-produced furniture. Innovation was needed and a group of visionary master cabinetmakers from the Copenhagen Cabinetmaker’s Guild opted for cooperation with architects and the students of Kaare Klint’s Department of Furniture Design at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts. They decided to host an annual exhibition that encouraged architects and furniture designers to develop new designs conceived for the cabinetmakers’ workshops. Thus, the foundation was laid for the Danish symbiosis of design and craftsmanship.
The Copenhagen Cabinetmaker’s Guild Exhibition peaked in the years after the Second World War when a great amount of talented people formed fruitful partnerships between architects, designers and craftsmen. Despite the expansion of industrialized production, cabinetmakers persisted in making high-quality, handmade furniture that remains relevant today.
As these traditional standards of quality and craft become increasingly rare, we invite you to explore these historical examples of exquisite workmanship, handmade by extraordinary craftsmen.
CABINETMAKER RUD. RASMUSSEN
Architect Kaare Klint
KAARE KLINT (1888-1954)
The ’Spherical Bed’, 1938 Cuban mahogany and Macassar ebony
Made by Rud. Rasmussen
KAARE KLINT (1888-1954)
Bergére, 1931
Cuban mahogany, rosewood, Niger leather, cane and brass
Made by Rud. Rasmussen
KAARE KLINT (1888-1954)
Cabinet, 1933
Cuban mahogany and Macassar ebony
Made by Rud. Rasmussen
KAARE KLINT (1888-1954)
Folding stool with removable tray, 1930
Smoked ash, leather and brass
Made by Rud. Rasmussen
KAARE KLINT (1888-1954)
The Red Chair, 1927 Cuban mahogany and Niger leather Made by Rud. Rasmussen
Library, 1928
Oak, maple and brass
Made by Rud. Rasmussen
MOGENS KOCH (1898-1992)
Rud. Rasmussens workshop
MOGENS KOCH (1898-1992)
Chest of drawers, 1928-32
Oak
Made by Rud. Rasmussen
CABINETMAKER
A.J. IVERSEN
’The cabinetmaker’s purpose has a much bigger perspective than to earn him a living. The cabinetmaker creates the home in which the family grows and lives their life – in this place, nothing is too good nor too beautiful.’
A.J. Iversen
OLE WANSCHER (1903-1985)
Armchair, 1940s
Cuban mahogany and Niger leather
Made by A.J. Iversen
Architect Ole Wanscher
OLE WANSCHER (1903-1985)
Armchair, 1961
Brazilian rosewood and leather Made by A.J. Iversen
OLE WANSCHER (1903-1985)
Desk, 1959
Brazilian rosewood and brass
Made by A.J. Iversen
OLE WANSCHER (1903-1985)
Armchair, 1958
Brazilian rosewood and leather Made by A.J. Iversen
OLE WANSCHER (1903-1985)
Armchair, 1965
Cuban mahogany, horsehair and leather
Made by A.J. Iversen
OLE WANSCHER (1903-1985)
Drawing cabinet, 1940s
Brazilian rosewood, mahogany, lionelum and brass
Made by A.J. Iversen
MOGENS LASSEN (1901-1987)
Egyptian coffee table , 1940
Brazilian rosewood and brass
Made by A.J. Iversen
Architect Mogens Lassen
GUSTAV BERTELSEN
CABINETMAKER
Architects Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen
TOVE KINDT-LARSEN (1906 -1994)
EDVARD KINDT-LARSEN (1901-1982)
Lady’s desk , 1939
Cuban mahogany
Made by Gustav Bertelsen
TOVE KINDT-LARSEN (1906 -1994)
EDVARD KINDT-LARSEN (1901-1982)
Pair of fireplace chairs, 1939
Cuban mahogany, textile and Niger leather
Made by Gustav Bertelsen
CABINETMAKER
THORALD MADSEN
TOVE KINDT-LARSEN (1906 -1994)
EDVARD KINDT-LARSEN (1901-1982)
Set of six dining chairs , 1960
Brazilian rosewood and leather
Made by Thorald Madsen
TOVE KINDT-LARSEN (1906 -1994)
EDVARD KINDT-LARSEN (1901-1982)
Swivel stool, 1957
Brazilian rosewood, leather and brass
Made by Thorald Madsen
“Time is the best touchstone and time has shown that these works endure regardless of the changing fashions within furniture making”
A.J. Iversen
CABINETMAKER JACOB KJÆR
Cabinet, 1930s
Cuban mahogany and brass
Made by Jacob Kjær
JACOB KJÆR (1896 -1957)
The UN chair, 1949
Cherry and leather
Made by Christensen & Larsen
JACOB KJÆR (1896 -1957)
Trolley, 1953
Brazilian rosewood and brass
Made by Jacob Kjær
JACOB KJÆR (1896 -1957)
Designer Børge Mogensen
CABINETMAKER
ERHARD RASMUSSEN
BØRGE MOGENSEN (1914 -1972)
Furniture for a Hunting Logde, 1950
Teak, oak, saddle leather and brass
Made by Erhard Rasmussen
Console table, 1949
BØRGE MOGENSEN (1914 -1972)
Pair of Hunting chairs, 1950 Oak, saddle leather and brass
Made by Erhard Rasmussen
CABINETMAKER
LUDVIG PONTOPPIDAN
BØRGE MOGENSEN (1914 -1972)
Table and ten chairs, 1950
Teak, ash and textile
Made by L. Pontoppidan
EJNER LARSEN (1917 -1987)
AKSEL BENDER MADSEN (1916-2000)
Stool, 1951
Teak and cane
Made by L. Pontoppidan
Teak and cane
Made by L. Pontoppidan
NANNA DITZEL (1923 -2005) Easy chair, 1950
CABINETMAKER
NIELS VODDER
FINN JUHL (1912-1989) Chieftan chair, 1949 Teak and leather Made by Niels Vodder
Niels Vodder’s workshop
FINN JUHL (1912-1989)
NV46 armchair, 1946
Walnut, leather and brass
Provenance: Bing & Grøndahl showroom, Copenhagen Made by Niels Vodder
NIELS VODDER (1892-1982)
Sideboard, 1954
Brazilian rosewood
Made by Niels Vodder
CABINETMAKER
JOHANNES HANSEN
Johannes Hansen and Hans J. Wegner
Teak and leather
Made by Johannes Hansen
HANS J. WEGNER (1914-2007) The Bull chair, 1961
The Valet Chair, 1953
Oak, teak, brass and leather
Made by Johannes Hansen
HANS J. WEGNER (1914-2007)
Shell chair, 1963
Painted beech and textile
Made by Johannes Hansen
HANS J. WEGNER (1914-2007)
HANS J. WEGNER (1914-2007)
Architect’s desk, 1953
Teak, oak, brass and chrome-plated steel
Made by Johannes Hansen
CABINETMAKER WILLY BECK
EJNER LARSEN (1917 -1987)
AKSEL BENDER MADSEN (1916-2000)
Desk, 1966
Brazilian rosewood and leather
Made by Willy Beck
EJNER LARSEN (1917 -1987)
AKSEL BENDER MADSEN (1916-2000)
Game table, 1966
Brazilian rosewood, ebony, leather and brass
Made by Willy Beck
Dansk Møbelkunst Gallery
Aldersrogade 6C, 1 DK-2100 Copenhagen Denmark
+45
3332 3837 info@dmk.dk
www.dmk.dk
copyright:
Dansk Møbelkunst ApS 2024
