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Vintage Mid-Century Danish Modern Diva Daybed by Gubi Olsen for Gubi, 1984

$6,554.56

£4,803.40

€6,758.85VAT Included

CA$9,023.47

A$9,178.78

CHF 5,241.21

MX$111,022.36

NOK 61,115.30

SEK 62,051.70

DKK 41,900.74

About the Item

The iconic Diva Daybed sofa was designed by Gubi Olsen for the Danish manufacturer GUBI in 1982. Although the concept itself originated in the early 1980s, the first official production batches were released in 1984, permanently etching themselves into the history of Scandinavian design. It is a superb example of Scandinavian design that consciously transcends the canon of cool modernism. Diva is a distinctive piece of furniture that perfectly combines Scandinavian style with bold, geometric forms and a postmodern design language. The monumental, soft shape of the seat, juxtaposed with a minimalist chrome tubular frame, takes center stage. The furniture's design is based on simple, decisive lines, and its original character is built on the contrasting color scheme of intense cobalt blue and saturated red. The metal frame is not merely a structural element; it becomes the furniture's graphic outline, emphasizing its geometric silhouette. The distinctive upholstery due the sofa an elegant texture and ensures durability and comfort. The sofa is equipped with a certified "Fomalux Sædeindlæg" insert from the Danish brand Brdr. Foltmar A/S. The insert is made of highly elastic foam that has passed rigorous compression tests and earned Varefakta and Møbelfakta quality certificates. The functionality of this model is emphasized by geometric, contoured cushions that serve as backrests and armrests, which can be freely arranged to adapt the furniture to your needs for relaxation or sleep. The base is cylindrical chrome-plated metal legs, which give the structure a visual lightness and modern character. The colors and form evoke the aesthetics of Italian Radical Design and the later Memphis, where the furniture ceases to be a neutral utilitarian object and begins to function as a standalone visual object. It's this trend's characteristic juxtaposition of strong colors, simple geometric shapes, exaggerated proportions, and a conscious tension between function and expression. Memphis, operating in Milan from 1981 to 1988 under the direction of Ettore Sottsass, rejected the previously prevailing rules of "good taste," experimenting with color, form, and pop culture references. In this context, Olsen's sofa is particularly interesting: Danish design tradition meets Italian postmodernism. Instead of ascetic elegance, we receive a bold, decorative, and decidedly collectible piece. A piece of furniture that can define an entire interior. GUBI builds its collection around the dialogue between historical design icons and contemporary design, which is why this type of furniture fits well with the brand's broader philosophy. Gubi Olsen lived from 1947 to 2023. He was one of the most visionary figures in Danish design and an incorrigible optimist in the world of furniture. He graduated from the prestigious Den Permanente craft school in Copenhagen, demonstrating an exceptional sense of aesthetics from a young age. In 1967, at just 20 years old, he and his wife Lisbeth founded GUBI, which transformed from a local textile business into a global furniture brand. Olsen consistently rejected cold, rigorous functionalism in favor of his own, eccentric postmodern style. He built his unique, sculptural furniture forms on a rich tradition of craftsmanship, combining it with global inspirations, from French cinema to the figure of Napoleon and the shape of the classical piano. He left behind an impressive legacy of original designs, including the iconic Grand Piano sofa and the Diva series, which defined a new boldness in Scandinavian design at the end of the 20th century. GUBI is an exclusive Danish furniture brand that has been successfully redefining the boundaries of modern design since its founding in 1967. Founded in Copenhagen by the husband-and-wife team of Lisbeth and Gubi Olsen, the company began by designing textiles and selling furniture, eventually evolving into a global icon of luxury design. The brand's philosophy is based on the search for forgotten gems of 20th-century design and bold collaborations with contemporary, visionary designers. GUBI is renowned for fusing the past with the present, resulting in collections characterized by sculptural forms, bold material combinations, and a unique sense of aesthetics that captivate interior design enthusiasts worldwide. Under the leadership of the next generation of the Olsen family, the brand has evolved into a dynamic empire that not only celebrates the history of craftsmanship but also continually sets new trends in the international world of interior design. The sofa is in original vintage condition. It shows minor signs of wear and tear due to age. There is a small abrasion to the fabric at the bottom, near a leg. The seat is at a height of 42 cm. The colors of the products shown in the photos may differ slightly from the actual ones. This is due to individual monitor settings and lighting conditions – the photos were taken in artificial light, which may affect the perception of colors. However, we strive to ensure that the photos reflect the actual appearance of the product as faithfully as possible. The offer may include photos of item in the living space, but these are for illustrative purposes only.

Creator:
Gubi Olsen (Designer),Gubi (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 27.17 in (69 cm)Width: 80.32 in (204 cm)Depth: 36.23 in (92 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
Style:
Scandinavian Modern (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Chrome,Fabric
Place of Origin:
Denmark
Period:
1980-1989
Date of Manufacture:
1984
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa is in original vintage condition. It shows minor signs of wear and tear due to age. There is a small abrasion to the fabric at the bottom, near a leg.
Seller Location:
Warszawa, PL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6129251497272

Shop All Gubi

Gubi

Iconic Danish furniture and lighting manufacturer Gubi was founded in Copenhagen by designer-couple Lisbeth and Gubi Olsen in 1967. The brand is celebrated globally for its innovative chairs, lighting fixtures, mirrors, sofas and other furnishings and decor.

The company began as a platform to manufacture the textiles and furniture designed by Lisbeth and Gubi. Soon, the business model broadened. While recent contemporary pieces manufactured by Gubi such as GamFratesi’s Beetle chair have become darlings of today’s interiors, the company is also widely known as a leader in reissuing exquisite Scandinavian and other mid-century modern furniture by a range of design legends.

Swedish architect and interior designer Greta Magnusson Grossman — the first woman to receive a prize for furniture design from the Swedish Society of Industrial Design — emigrated to the United States and built 14 homes in Los Angeles in the postwar era that were inspired by the Case Study Houses. She furnished these homes with her own designs, and her impossibly sleek Grasshopper table lamps and floor lamps — created for Barker Bros. but today made by Gubi — were frequent fixtures in the interiors. Another Scandinavian architect and industrial designer, Louis Weisdorf designed the wildly popular Multi-Lite line of lighting fixtures, which were originally created during the early 1970s and reissued by Gubi in 2016.

Beyond lighting, Spanish designer Barbara Corsini created the distinctively geometric Pedrera coffee table during the mid-1950s that is now made by Gubi, while the Hungarian-born French master of postwar design, Mathieu Matégot, created the Tropique dining table and an elegant three-legged Nagasaki chair, both of which were reissued by the Danish brand. French furniture designer Pierre Paulin created the inviting, organically shaped Pacha lounge chair in 1975. This design yielded a loveseat and a sofa as well. All of these pieces were reissued by Gubi.

Since 2001, Gubi founders’ son, Jacob Olsen, has managed the company, and travels the world to find heirs to the iconic designers of yesteryear in order to secure permission to give their works a second life.

On 1stDibs, find Gubi lighting, seating, tables and more.

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