Svend Åge Madsen’s sleek and simple hardwood furniture captures the essence of Scandinavian modern style. Although an influential mid-century modern Danish designer, not much is known about Madsen today. However, his desks, armchairs and credenzas speak to his mastery of material and form.
Madsen began designing in the late 1950s and was most prolific in the 1960s. Many well-known Danish cabinetmakers and manufacturers produced his furniture, including K. Knudsen & Son, H.P. Hansen, Sigurd Hansen Møbelfabrik, Karl Lindegaard and Moreddi.
Madsen used woods with qualities of warmth and richness such as walnut, teak and rosewood. His distinctive designs are characterized by curving and sloping forms, giving each piece a natural and organic appeal. While he rarely used decorative embellishments, the bowed surfaces, arching drawers and legs shaped like boomerangs added a visual flair.
Madsen was best known for his sculptural writing desks. Many of his desk designs have an eye-catching curved surface that gives the desktop a concave appearance. They often feature tapered legs — a hallmark of mid-century modern style — and generous drawers for stationary and other objects. Deep wood finishes and visible wood grain add to the charm of these sturdy pieces.
Madsen’s beautiful 1960s dining chairs are still highly sought-after by collectors today. The teak chairs have high and angled backrests which lend some sculptural elegance and provide ergonomic support. A low-profile upholstered cushion and clean lines give the chairs an understated style and fantastic versatility.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Svend Åge Madsen tables, cabinets, seating and more.
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN Modernist DESK by THONET, France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
A rigorous and luxurious small desk, Modernist, Constructivist, Reconstruction, black lacquered square section metal structures, box with 3 drawers (and 1 drawer top) and 1 large lac...
Metal
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN SPACE-AGE DESK, France 1960
By Erwine & Estelle Laverne, Etienne Fermigier, Joe Colombo
Located in PARIS, FR
A beautifull and stylised, small white desk clearly inspired by the space odyssey period, Modernist, Space-Age, Seventies, cream white laquered wood body with sixties curved angles,...
Metal
A NEO-CLASSICAL ART-DECO SHABBY-CHIC Desk and a Chair by DAL VERA, Italy 1960
By Dal Vera
Located in PARIS, FR
A beautiful set composed of a small rectangular desk with 2 drawers and a chair, Art-Deco, Modernist, desk with geometric bamboo structure and w...
Brass, Bronze
A Massive Elm MODERNIST COFFEE or SIDE TABLE by MAISON REGAIN, France 1960
By Maison Regain
Located in PARIS, FR
A small but powerful hexagonal coffee table on a tripod base; might be used also as a side table, bedside table or a headboard; Modernist, Brutalist, Folk Art, Forme-Libre, structure...
Elm
A MODERNIST SIDE or COFFEE Ceramic TABLE by JEAN & ROBERT CLOUTIER, France 1950
By Cloutier Freres
Located in PARIS, FR
A small coffee table or a side table or a headboard, Modernist, Geometrical Abstraction, Lyrical Abstraction, Forme-Libre; dynamic structure in wrought iron, with a pictorial top in enameled lava stone depicting an abstract scenery made with light grey, black, orange and red, by Jean and Robert Cloutier...
Lava, Enamel, Wrought Iron
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN BRUTALIST Dining TABLE by AUDOUX-MINNET, France 1950
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in PARIS, FR
A spectacular dining table, modernist, constructivist, free-form, bamboo structure with dynamic lines, large wooden top inlaid with wicker checkerboards, by Audoux-Minnet, France 197...
Bamboo, Wicker
Mid-Century Architectural Firm Executive Desk Designed by Svend Aage Madsen
By Svend Åge Madsen
Located in Raleigh, NC
This seldomly seen designed executive desk by Svend Aage Madsen for Sigurd Hansens Møbelfabrik is truly a relic of design history. To my knowledge we are the only ones in the United ...
Teak
Danish desk by Svend Aage Madsen and produced by Sigurd Hansen in the 1950s
By Svend Åge Madsen
Located in Vigevano, PV
"Model 200" teak desk with asymmetrical top and two drawers, without keys. Designer: Svend Aage Madsen for Sigurd Hansens Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1950. This desk will be delivered fu...
Wood, Teak
Mid-Century Danish Wooden Desk, 1960s Design
Located in Argelato, BO
Refined Mid-Century writing desk in Danish teak wood, very comfortable and versatile thanks to a comfortable top, two spacious front drawers and a bookcase niche positioned at the en...
Teak
Vintage Modernist Desk by Ib Kofod Larsen, Sweden, 1960s
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Stylish teak desk by Ib Kofod Larsen, with a spacious table top and two drawers. The open sides give a lightness to the design.
Teak
Danish architects desk by Svend Åge Madsen Teak Mid-Century
By Svend Åge Madsen
Located in Oirlo, LI
Vintage Danish architectural firm by Svend & Madsen from the 1960s Discover the elegance and functionality of the Vintage Danish Architectural Office, designed by Svend Aage Madsen ...
Teak
Mid Century Modern Danish Teakwood Desk by Peter Lovig Nielsen ca. 1970s
By Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Shippensburg, PA
DANISH MODERN PETER LØVIG NIELSEN TEAKWOOD FLIP-TOP WRITING DESK Denmark, circa 1970s Item # 405XLG28A This brilliant desk was designed by Peter Løvig Nielsen and originally was off...
Teak
