| h furniture had its great period between 1925 and | | | | new designs are here to stay and have paved |
| 1975, hence the name Mid-century Modern. During | | | | the way for today’s designers. |
| this period, architects and manufacturers entered | | | |
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| into unique and very rewarding collaborations, | | | | Today’s designers fall in either one of two |
| which raised standards, in terms of both | | | | categories. They are either |
| aesthetics and functionality. Danish furniture has | | | | “disciplined” with a clear |
| been described as art. | | | | understanding and adherence to Danish design |
| To look at Danish furniture we have to look at | | | | tradition with respect for the classic craft. This |
| where it has come from and where it is, and for | | | | group is represented by designers such as |
| the purpose of this article I have categorized | | | | Søren Ulrik Petersen and Christina Strand. |
| Danish furniture design into two categories; the | | | | Søren Ulrik Petersen studied at |
| vintage classics and the new classics. | | | | Denmark’s Design School, where he |
| The vintage classics are collector items from | | | | graduated as a cabinetmaker in 1990. Petersen is |
| renowned Danish designers. The most well known | | | | a designer who continues the Danish tradition for |
| designer is Hans Jørgen Wegner. He | | | | furniture and design and manages to mix art and |
| received almost all major honors given to | | | | crafts with a great feel for materials. |
| designers, from the Luning prize in 1951 to the | | | | Christina Strand has the uncanny flair for finding |
| Prince Eugen medal. Wegner is best known for his | | | | inspiration in unexpected places. She mainly |
| many chairs of craftsmanship some of which are | | | | designs chairs and tables using steel. She |
| the Peacock Chair, Papa Bear Chair, and the Wing | | | | emphasizes that she makes furniture for people. |
| Chair among other classic pieces. | | | | The other group is known as the |
| Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980) took a particular | | | | “wild” with new ideas of design |
| liking to metal while a student at Copenhagen | | | | using spectacular and sculptural forms. It is |
| School of Arts and Crafts. He went on to create | | | | represented by designers such as Mathias |
| masterpieces using steel. He believed that it was | | | | Bengtsson and Sebastian Holmbäck. |
| upon the user to add movement, drama, color | | | | Mathias Bengtsson is a Danish-born, London-based |
| and variation to his designs. | | | | designer who produces sculptural furniture which is |
| Finn Juhl (1912 - 1989) was a furniture designer, | | | | visually arresting and technically innovative. |
| industrial designer and architect. He specialized in | | | | Sebastian Holmbäck graduated from |
| furniture and interior design and also designed | | | | Denmark’s Design School with a major in |
| refrigerators for General Electric. | | | | Industrial Design. He owned StudioB and was one |
| The new classics are brand new furniture pieces | | | | of the main reasons behind the design project |
| created in recent years. In the last 2 decades | | | | that we know as, “Walk the Plank |
| Danish designers have been getting together and | | | | II”. |
| creating pieces which many labeled as weak and | | | | Danish furniture design is as full of history as it is |
| cannot be taken as serious art. However, these | | | | exquisite. |