Danish manufacturer France & Søn is best known for its prolific output of elegant mid-century modern furnishings in teak and leather, yet its multinational beginnings took shape during the 1930s.
After businessman Charles William Fearnley France (1897–1972) moved from his native England to Denmark in 1936, he began to operate a small mattress factory alongside his friend Eric Daverkosen, a Danish cabinetmaker, under the name France & Daverkosen. Shortly afterward, Daverkosen passed away, and when Denmark was invaded during the Second World War, Charles was captured and sent to a prison camp in Germany. When he was released, the British entrepreneur set out to produce furniture in the early 1950s, setting up a shop in Hillerød to manufacture the kind of sleek beech and teak goods that were gaining widespread acclaim around the world. In 1957, France’s son James joined the business, and the company changed its name to reflect the addition.
Throughout the ’50s and ’60s, France & Søn produced a stunning array — and staggering quantity — of designs, with elegant modernist lounge chairs and armchairs, teak and rosewood dining tables and other furnishings by the likes of Finn Juhl, Grete Valk, Ole Wanscher, Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen all gracing its catalogues.
Even as there was a focus on mass production at France & Søn — and the brand doesn’t quite enjoy the same renown as fellow mid-century Danish furniture makers such as Carl Hansen & Søn — Charles France believed in making quality furniture, and the company’s offerings evoke the warmth of the handcrafted work that is typically associated with Scandinavian modernism.
In the 1960s, the company was bought by Danish designer Poul Cadovius, who folded it into the operations at CADO, a company he founded during the 1950s. Surviving examples of early work from the brand as well as modern icons by the likes of Verner Panton that followed in later years continue to be in demand.
Find a collection of France & Søn furniture on 1stDibs.
Danish Vintage Leather Armchair by Finn Juhl
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in London, GB
A beautifully designed and extremely comfortable Danish vintage leather armchair by Finn Juhl. This is the Jupiter armchairs, it was made by France and son in Denmark, and it dates f...
Leather, Wood
Finn Juhl Diplomat Armchairs Model 196, France and Søn, 1960s, Rare Find!
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Bochum, NRW
Pair of Armchairs Designed by Finn Juhl for France and Søn, 1960s This is a superb pair of armchairs, model 196, in solid teak frames. They were designed by the famous Danish archite...
Upholstery, Wood
Danish Collectible Chair "197" Design Finn Juhl for France & Søn, 1960s
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in taranto, IT
Danish collectible chair, model "197", France & Søn production based on a design by Finn Juhl, mid-1960s made on a teak structure, it measures 76 cm in height, 50 cm in width, 45 ...
Faux Leather, Teak
Armchair by Sigvard Bernadotte for France & Søn, Denmark, 1960s
By Sigvard Bernadotte, France & Søn
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Elegant Scandinavian armchair designed by Sigvard Bernadotte and produced by France & Søn in the 1960s. The frame is made of polished chromed steel, the armrests are in solid te...
Metal
$18,669Sale Price / set|20% Off
Finn Juhl Bwana chairs in teak and leather France & Son 1960s
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful pair of Bwana armchairs by Finn Juhl. These armchairs are real sculptures that have been meticulously designed by the man who is considered the greatest designer of the Sca...
Leather, Teak
$1,700 / item
Finn Juhl Armchair 209 Diplomat, Early 1960s
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Vienna, AT
Finn Juhl, diplomat desk chair or armchair with frame in solid hardwood, seat and backrest upholstered, model 209. Designed in 1963. Produced by France & Son. Measures: H. 82 cm, SH...
Leather, Hardwood
Ole Wanscher Teak Easy Chair Model Senator for France & Son
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Ole Wanscher Modell Senator Easy chair in teak wood. Produced by France & Son / France Daverkosen The fabric is made of wool and it is everything in original condition. Great condit...
Fabric, Wool, Teak
$1,700 / item
Finn Juhl Armchair 209 Diplomat, Early 1960s
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Vienna, AT
Finn Juhl, diplomat desk chair or armchair with frame in solid hardwood, seat and backrest upholstered, model 209. Designed in 1963. Produced by France & Son. Measures: H. 82 cm, SH...
Leather, Hardwood
Pair of Ole Wanscher for France and Son "Senator" Chairs in Teak
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Danish modern easy chairs (model 116) designed by Ole Wanscher for France & Son. Composed of a dense slat-back frame, designed with a partially exposed back to better reveal ...
Teak, Leather
Scandinavian Modern Teak Lounge Chair By Grete Jalk
By France & Søn, Grete Jalk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scandinavian modern, lounge chair by Grete Jalk for France & Son features a teak frame with upholstered seat and back removeable cushions and cove...
Fabric, Teak
"Diplomat" armchair by Finn Juhl
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Brescia, IT
Iconic 1960s Danish teak armchair, original olive green upholstery. Curved arms, tapered silhouette, France & Son branding present. Designed by Finn Juhl, the "Diplomat" condenses D...
Fabric, Teak
Leather 'Moduline' Red Easy Chair Set with Table by Ole Gjerlov-Knudsen, 1962
By France & Søn, Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen and Torben Lind
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Supercool set of red leather and rosewood Moduline easy chairs designed by Ole Gjerlov Knudsen & Torben Lind for France & Son, Denmark 1962. The frame is made in rosewood, with remar...
Leather, Palisander, Rosewood
Mid-century Danish teak lounge chair/ Easy chair by Grete Jalk For France & Son
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Mid-century Rare Danish teak lounge chair/ Easy chair by Grete Jalk For France &Son , 1960s Design year: 1960s Style: vintage, Danish modern Designed by: Grete Jalk For France &...
Fabric, Teak
1960s Armchair, Ole Wanscher
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic armchair from the 1960s. Model Senator by Ole Wanscher for France & Søn. High-quality solid teak frame and cushions with original leather cover in green. Quality Features: ...
Leather, Teak
MCM Teak Armchair Model 196 by Finn Juhl for France and Son, 1960s, Original
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl, John Stuart Inc.
Located in Chicago, IL
Stunning upholstered Danish armchair designed in teak by Finn Juhl for France and Søn, retailed in the United States by John Stuart Inc. These were designated model 196 and date from...
Teak
Rocking Chair by Sigvard Bernadotte for France & Son
By Sigvard Bernadotte, France & Søn
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Solid teak, upholstered rocking chair in vintage velvet fabric.
Upholstery, Teak
France & Søn Senator Schaukelstuhl Ole Wanscher Teak Midcentury
By France & Daverkosen, France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Teak Schaukelstuhl von France & Son aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Modell wurde von Ole Wanscher entworfen und ist bekannt unter dem Nam...
Teak, Wool
Pair of '118' armchairs by Grete Jalk for France & Son, 1960s, red
By France & Søn, Grete Jalk
Located in Milano, IT
A pair of '118' armchairs designed by Grete Jalk for a France & Son production from the 1960s. The frame is made of teak wood, known for its beautiful natural grain; the padding cons...
Fabric, Teak
Senator Armchair by Ole Wanscher for France & Son
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Vintage armchair by Ole Wanscher for France and Son, Denmark, 60's Teak armchair, “Senator” model with flat armrests. Good condition. It has the publisher’s label: France and Son,...
Teak
$3,628 / set
Pair of "Diplomat" armchairs by Finn Juhl
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Brescia, IT
"Diplomat" pair by Finn Juhl for France & Son, 1960s. Rosewood and original cognac leather, with period mark present. Designed by Finn Juhl and manufactured by France & Son in the 1...
Leather, Kingwood
Finn Juhl Model 141 Lounge Chair
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in Highland, IN
This handsome easy chair by Finn Juhl for France & Sons is a rare model fd141. It shares qualities with many of his famous chairs including the Chieftain, the #45 chair, and the Dele...
Upholstery, Teak
Pair of Danish Teak Armchairs by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
By Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, France & Søn, Peter Hvidt
Located in London, GB
A stunning, very rare and extremely comfortable pair of Danish teak armchairs by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen. This is the model FD-130 lounge chair, made in Denmark by Fran...
Wool, Teak
Danish armchair FD118 by Grete Jalk for France & Søn, 1960s
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in Brescia, IT
Poltrona danese modello FD118 di Grete Jalk per France & Søn, struttura in teak e cuscini rifoderati in lana melange grigia. Refined Danish armchair model FD118 designed by Grete Ja...
Fabric, Teak
Early Finn Juhl ‘Diplomat’ Chairs Model 209 by France & Son – Denmark, 1955-65
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Earlier pair of Finn Juhl model 209 chairs in special wood. Produced by France & Søn, Denmark, circa 1955-65 The chairs are both labeled and numbered. Authentic Model 209 “Dipl...
Leather, Walnut
Original Ole Wanscher Midcentury Sessel Senator Couch France&Søn
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher, France & Daverkosen
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Sessel von France & Son aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Sessel, der den Modellnamen "Senator" trägt, wurde von Ole Wanscher entworfen und...
Teak
Set of 2 France & Son Rosewood Moduline Armchairs by Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen & Lind
By Torben Lind, France & Søn, Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen
Located in CULEMBORG, GE
Listed is a pair of iconic ‘Moduline’ rosewood and leather armchairs by Ole Gerlev Knudsen and Torben Lind for France & Son, Denmark. Chairs are in fair original condition, ‘dans son jus’. The rosewood actually is in immaculate condition, however the leather is adequate. Though I could see them standing — as is — in a loft or a bachelor pad...
Leather, Rosewood
$3,169Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Original Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Danish Black Leather Armchairs
By Sigvard Bernadotte, France & Søn
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This pair of armchairs was designed by Sigvard Bernadotte for the Danish manufacturer France & Søn during the 1960s. The geometric frame of the armchairs is made of chrome-plated...
Metal
Ole Wanscher Teak Easy Chair Model Senator for France & Son Set of 2
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Ole Wanscher Modell Senator Easy chair in teak wood. Produced by France & Son / France Daverkosen The fabric is made of wool and it has a unique flower pattern which made it so spe...
Wool, Teak, Fabric
Sessel France & Søn Ole Gjerlov Knudson Torben Lind Teak II
By France & Søn, Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen and Torben Lind, France & Daverkosen
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Vintage Teakholz Armlehnstuhl von France & Son aus den 1970er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Sessel wurde von Ole Gjerlov Knudson und Torben Lind entwo...
Fabric, Teak
Sessel France & Søn Ole Gjerlov Knudson Torben Lind Teak I
By Ole Gjerløv-Knudsen and Torben Lind, France & Daverkosen, France & Søn
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Vintage Teakholz Armlehnstuhl von France & Son aus den 1970er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Sessel wurde von Ole Gjerlov Knudson und Torben Lind entwo...
Fabric, Teak