The giant of mid-century furniture design France & Søn began its remarkable journey as a Danish firm specializing in the production and exporting of Scandinavian design called France & Daverkosen.
British businessman Charles William Fearnley France and Danish cabinetmaker Eric Daverkosen entered into a joint venture in 1936 — France being the investor and Daverkosen the head designer for their small mattress factory. Soon after production started at the France & Daverkosen company, Daverkosen became quite ill.
Concerned for his friend and their fledgling business, France traveled to Denmark, and Daverkosen died soon after his partner arrived. While France was attempting to make arrangements to transfer the company into his hands, World War II erupted, and Germany invaded Denmark. As a British citizen, France was captured and sent to a prison camp in Germany.
While in captivity, France developed several manufacturing ideas to pass the time and to keep his mind focused. He imagined a way to create lightweight wooden chairs that could be manufactured on an industrial scale and transported using an economic flat-pack format. He also thought of a way to retool his mattress factory to create chair backs, seats and sofa cushions.
Once freed, France returned to his business in Denmark and began to manufacture beech and teak goods that were gaining widespread acclaim around the world. He began to surround himself with some of the best Scandinavian designers of the time: Finn Juhl, Grete Jalk and Ole Wanscher, to name a few.
By 1954, France & Daverkosen accounted for 60 percent of all Danish furniture exports and their factory employed 350 people. Charles’s son James joined the company in 1957, which resulted in the name change to France & Søn.
Later, France & Søn was acquired by Danish designer Poul Cadovius, who folded it into the operations at CADO, a company he founded during the 1950s.
On 1stDibs, find France & Daverkosen seating, tables and more.
Coffee Corner Table in Teak and Cane by Peter Hvidt, Denmark, 1955
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Midcentury solid teak corner table with woven rattan shelf. Excellent for use as a side table or sofa table manufactured by France and Sons designer ...
Teak
$900Sale Price|29% Off
Vintage Floating Danish Teak and Brass Square Coffee Table by Grete Jalk
By Grete Jalk, France & Daverkosen
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid century modern square coffee table designed by Grete Jalk for France & Daverkosen in teak. This timeless piece features brass accents and functions as a coffee table, occasio...
Brass
$2,294
H 15.75 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Midcentury Rega Smoked Glass, Brass and Chrome Square Coffee Table, Italy 1970s
By Romeo Rega
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant midcentury smoked glass, brass and chrome squared coffee table. This amazing piece was designed by Romeo Rega in Italy during the 1970s. This coffee table, thanks to the c...
Brass, Chrome
Mosaic Coffee Table with Floating Top, 1950s
By Mado Jolain
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage midcentury mosaic tile table. Striped design with neutral stone tile striped with blues and neon yellow. Floating iron frame. Dim...
Metal
$935
H 19.3 in W 27.56 in D 19.69 in
Vintage Danish Teak Side Table by Grete Jalk for Glostrup Møbelfabrik, 1960s
By Glostrup Møbelfabrik, Grete Jalk
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish teak side table by Grete Jalk for Glostrup Møbelfabrik, 1960s Danish modern small coffee table with round tapered legs and frame in solid teak. Tabletop in teak veneer...
Teak
$2,353
H 20.48 in W 23.23 in D 63.39 in
Grete Jalk Teak Coffee Table, Scandinavian Modern, 1960s Denmark
By Grete Jalk, Glostrup Møbelfabrik
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Grete Jalk coffee table in partly solid teak. Made by Glostrup Møbelfabrik.
Teak
$2,900
H 16 in W 58 in D 21 in
Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard Nielsen for France & Son Teak & Cane Coffee Table
By Peter Hvidt, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, France & Søn
Located in Buffalo, NY
Designed in 1956 by celebrated Danish architects and designers Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for France & Søn, this iconic Model FD516 coffee table exemplifies the refined cr...
Brass
$1,400 / set
H 19 in W 19.75 in D 27.5 in
Pr. Mid Century Danish Modern Side Tables by Grete Jalk for Glostrup Mobelfabrik
By Grete Jalk, Glostrup Møbelfabrik
Located in New York, NY
Pair of iconic Mid Century, Danish Modern side, or end tables, designed by Grete Jalk, for Glostrup Mobelfabrik, circa 1960's. Constructed of solid teak, having sculptural tray style...
Teak
Grete Jalk Teak Coffee Table for Glostrup Denmark
By Grete Jalk
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A teak wood coffee table with very well crafted upper lip to the top and stretchers to each leg having brass details . Manufactured in Denmark and designed by the iconic female desig...
Teak
$9,513
H 28.35 in W 63.78 in D 55.52 in
Teak Dining Table by Peter Hvidt and Orla Møllgaard for France & Son, Denmark
By Peter Hvidt, Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Stunning, sculptural teak drop-leaf dining table by Peter Hvidt and Orla Møllgaard. Beautiful oval shape and legs in the shape of five joined, sculpted rectangles. Beautiful teak woo...
Teak
$2,320 / set
H 20.5 in W 17.25 in D 30 in
Pair of Grete Jalk for Poul Jeppesen Møbelfabrik Danish Teak Side Tables
By Ole Wanscher, Glostrup Møbelfabrik, Grete Jalk, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Pair of handsome Danish teak side tables by celebrated designer, Grete Jalk. The end tables feature slatted racks beneath the main table top. The Mid-Century...
Teak
$3,550
H 19.25 in W 59.75 in D 19.5 in
Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Nielsen FD 516 Coffee Table France & Daverkosen
By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Nielsen FD 516 coffee table France & Daverkosen, Denmark, 1950s. FD 516 by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Nielsen - Teak and Cane coffee table - Denmark 195...
Brass
$2,588
H 14.97 in W 23.63 in D 57.09 in
Rare Danish Coffee Table by Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Scandinavian, F143
By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter Hvidt
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Scandinavian coffee table by Danish designers Peter Hvidt and Oral Molgaard from the 1950s. Solid teak top and legs, with two lines of inlaid metal on each leg, which gives them even...
Teak
$2,235
H 21.86 in W 22.25 in D 51.19 in
Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Teak Coffee Table by France & Daverkosen
By Hvidt & Mølgaard, France & Daverkosen
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
An elegant mid century danish coffee table designed by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Nielsen. Produced by France & Daverkosen during the 1950s, it is made of solid teak with very disti...
Brass
Sold
H 23 in W 20 in D 29.5 in
Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen Teak Side Table Denmark Danish Teak France & Daverkos
By France & Daverkosen, Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen
Located in Forest Grove, PA
Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen Teak Side Table by France & Daverkosen. Made in Denmark, 1960s. Graet design with the top side rail being boat shaped or convex and the lower magazine she...
Teak
Danish Modern Tove & Kindt-Larsen Occasional Table
By France & Daverkosen, Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A solid teak occasional table designed by Danish Modern duo Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen. Beautifully sculpted top with a curved magazine shelf. Manufactured France & Daverkosen. Three...
Teak
Danish Modern Finn Juhl "Japan" Occasional Table
By Finn Juhl, France & Daverkosen
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A solid teak side table with magazine shelf designed by Finn Juhl for France & Daverkosen. An occasional table design that Finn Juhl himself had in his own home. This design was part...
Teak
Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Teak Side Table
By France & Daverkosen, Peter Hvidt
Located in Dallas, TX
Teak side table with a cane lower shelf. Design by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for France and Daverkosen and distributed by John Stuart, Inc in the USA.
Cane, Teak
Teak and Cane Side Table by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, France & Daverkosen, France & Søn, Peter Hvidt
Located in Miami, FL
A vintage Danish Modern two-tier teak occasional table brought back to life by our expert restorers. Designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen for France and Daverkosen (late...
Teak, Cane
Peter Hvidt for John Stuart Furniture Solid Teak Side Table
By France & Daverkosen, Peter Hvidt
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Peter Hvidt solid teak side table with caned bottom shelf. Manufactured by France & Daverkosen and distributed by John Stuart Furniture Company. Line of Furniture was notable for it'...
Cane, Teak
Pair of Peter Hvidt Teak and Brass Side Tables, Denmark, 1960s
By France & Daverkosen, France & Søn, Peter Hvidt
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of midcentury Danish modern interlocking modular model 523 end tables from the segmented Pinwheel series designed by Peter Hvidt in 1952 for France and Daverkosen (later renamed...
Brass
Danish Modern Side Table by France & Daverkosen
By France & Daverkosen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stylish Danish modern side table made by France & Daverkosen. Rectangular tabletop with raised edges, slatted magazine rack underneath. Nice piece sure to compliment any modern inter...
Teak
Finn Juhl for France and Daverkosen Slat Teak End Table
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in New Windsor, NY
Finn Juhl design for France and Daverkosen solid teak end table. Austere and refined Danish modern Design. The table features solid teak construc...
Teak
Sold
H 17.5 in W 69 in D 23.5 in
Early Finn Juhl for France and Daverkosen FD532 Teak Coffee Table, Denmark 1950s
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn, France & Daverkosen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early production example of the Model FD 532 Finn Juhl for France and Daverkosen teak coffee table. This particular example is using tea...
Teak
Danish Modern Solid Teak Three Piece End Table Set by Peter Hvidt
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen
Located in San Jose, CA
Early mid century set of stacking side tables by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Nielsen for France & Daverkosen, Denmark. Features sculptural square table tops constructed of solid planked teak supported by classic dowel legs. This set can be used as a coffee table or separate as three end tables.
Teak
Peter Hvidt Teak and Brass Side Tables
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen
Located in Miami, FL
Early set of four midcentury Danish Modern interlocking modular model 523 end tables from the segmented Pinwheel series designed by Peter Hvidt in 1952 for France and Daverkosen (later renamed France and Son). The shield shaped occasional tables can be placed together to form a biomorphic and organic cocktail table...
Brass