Among the great mid-20th century Danish furniture designers, Børge Mogensen distinguished himself with his faith to traditional values of craftsmanship and honesty of materials.
While peers such as Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl and Arne Jacobsen designed some of the most striking and now iconic furnishings of the era, Mogensen focused on making chairs, sofas and other pieces that were simple, durable and comfortable — and in the long run perhaps more useful and better loved.
Mogensen studied under and later worked for Kaare Klint, a master cabinetmaker whose chief tenets were quality of construction and simplicity of line. Klint was a classicist, who believed that furniture forms should evolve from those of historical models. So, too, in his way was Mogensen, as two of his best-known earlier pieces attest.
His 1945 Spokeback sofa, with hinged arms that can be lowered to facilitate lounging, is a reinterpretation of the venerable Knole settee. With the oval silhouette of its plywood backrest and waterdrop-shaped cutouts, Mogensen’s Shell chair, designed in 1949, can be seen as a novel take on early 19th-century Empire side chairs.
Yet Mogensen shared the aesthetical sensibilities of his most forward-looking colleagues. His cabinets deploy the same spare geometries and lushly figured woods as those of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his disciple Florence Knoll, the chief difference being that Mies and Knoll used chrome steel for the frames and legs of their pieces. The brawny oak frames and slung leather seats and backrests of Mogensen’s Hunting chair (1950) and Spanish chair (1958) display the same hefty construction and appreciation of natural materials seen in the work of Charlotte Perriand and Sergio Rodrigues.
Mogensen designed for function more than sculptural effect. While his chairs may not be the first pieces in a décor to draw the eye, they are often the first to draw in those looking for a comfortable seat.
Find vintage Børge Mogensen dining tables, bookcases and other Scandinavian modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Danish Teak Vintage Drop Leaf Dining Table by Borge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in London, GB
A stunning and rare Danish teak vintage drop leaf dining table by Borge Mogensen. This was made in Denmark by Soborg Mobelfabrik, it dates from the 1960’s. The design is fantastic, ...
Teak
$2,347 / set
H 28.5 in W 48 in D 48 in
Svend A. Madsen Mid Century Danish Teak Round Dining Table with 1 Leaf
By Svend Åge Madsen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Svend A. Madsen Mid Century Danish Teak Round Dining Table with 1 Leaf The table measures: 48 wide x 48 deep x 28.5 high, with a chair clearance of 27.5 inches; the leaf is 24 inche...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Dining Table by Karl-Erik Ekselius
By Karl-Erik Ekselius, J.O. Carlsson
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Modern Teak Dining Table, designed by Karl Erik Ekselius for J.O. Carlsson, Sweden, circa 1960s. It expands from a compact 47.5" round shape to an impressive 94.25" length ova...
Wood, Teak
Mid-Century Modern Teak Draw-Leaf Dining Table by Skovby, Denmark
By Skovby Møbelfabrik A/S 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage-modern dining table, beautiful teak drop-leaf dining table by Skovby Mobelfabrik. Exquisite Scandinavian modern table would make a comfortable addition to dining room or kit...
Teak
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 65 in D 37 in
Gorgeous Danish Modern Teak Dining Table with 2 Hide-Away Leaves Midcentury
By J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik
Located in Pemberton, NJ
A sleek and distinctly Danish teak dining table with fluidly shaped, tapering legs, gorgeous top surface, and two hidden expansion leaves measuring 19.5" each. Seats up to ten people...
Teak
$3,300
H 29 in W 58.75 in D 35.25 in
Vintage Teak Expanding Dining Table by Knud Nielsen for Møbelfabrik Løsning
Located in Emeryville, CA
This exquisite Danish Modern expandable teak dining table was designed by Knud Nielsen for Møbelfabrik Løsning in the 1960s. A superb example of functional Scandinavian design, it fe...
Teak
$4,200
H 29 in W 58 in D 38 in
Rectangle Round Corners Teak Midcentury Danish Modern Dining Table Pop Up Leaf
By Falster Møbelfabrik
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Danish Mid-Century Modern teak dining table with one pop up fold hide away 1 x 20" leaf extension board.
Teak
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in Dm 48 in
Mid Century round Teak Swedish Modern Extension Dining Table 2 Leaves
By J.O. Carlsson, Karl-Erik Ekselius
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning mid century Teak round swedish Modern extension dining table with (2) leaves. Designed by Karl-Erik Ekselius and made By J.O. CARLSSON. This table is in beautiful condition ...
Teak
$1,472
H 30.12 in W 32.29 in D 21.66 in
Danish Mid-Century Compact Folding Oak Dining Table by Børge Mogensen, 1950s.
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Compact Folding Oak Dining Table C5 by Børge Mogensen, 1950s. Small and practical extendable foldable table with exposed brass butterfly hinges. Clever Scandinavi...
Oak
$2,887Sale Price|25% Off
H 29 in Dm 48 in
Midcentury Swedish Modern Round Teak Dining Table by DUX with 2 Leaves
By Dux of Sweden
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Midcentury Swedish Modern Round dining table. This table is very high quality hand built in Sweden. Solid teak legs with 4 leg base. This table is in great vintage condition, the (2)...
Teak
