“My goal is to try to generate things that will serve people, and place the needs of people at the centre. I would not force people to adapt to objects for anything in the World.”
Simple, functional, quality, everyday furniture made of wood that was intended to be used in the daily lives of Danes – that was the goal of Børge Mogensen’s work. Many Danes have experienced Børge Mogensen’s design firsthand, because Mogensen’s furniture has appointed public spaces and private residences in Denmark over the past 70 years. The sets of furniture from FDB, the teak furniture from Søborg Møbelfabrik, the chair from Fredericia Stolefabrik and, most especially, the set of furniture called Øresund, are not only narratives about a brilliant furniture designer, they also represent the history of the development of the Danish welfare state.
In the exhibition Trapholt shows designs and commercials from the very young Børge Mogensen furniture program for the Fællesforeningen af Danmarks Brugsforeninger (FDB). When he was 28, Mogensen was hired with a view towards developing a furniture concept featuring practical, simple, straightforward furniture. FDB’s vision to create honest, sound furniture was partially a result of a problematic housing situation, where many apartments were of limited size, but was also part of a larger international modernist movement, where dwellings were part of an important societal transformation process. At that time, it was the individual who was the central consideration, rather than the actual furniture, which informed the fitting and arrangement of interiors.
Børge Mogensen’s designs spoke to people of modest means, who sought quality without lavishness, such as the total outfitting of Løgumkloster Refugium, and also to intellectual customers who were aware of the ideological intention behind the furniture, as well as the exclusive genuine leather furniture available in the higher price range. Mogensen’s iconic piece, the Spanish Chair, is considered to be the pinnacle of his life’s work, with its characteristic combination of fine, natural materials executed in a very expressive, yet extremely restrained idiom.
During the period 1939 to 1963, the annual exhibition hosted by the Danish Cabinetmakers Guild served as a playground for Børge Mogensen’s experiments, which later became modified for production. In the round gallery, you can see Mogensen’s contributions to these exhibitions over twenty-four years. As an extension of the Cabinetmakers Guild’s exhibition in 1962, a turbulent controversy broke out, which had to do with the definition of Danish design. In his contribution to the debate, Mogensen criticized his contemporary colleagues for not being loyal to the Danish
tradition. This lead to a year-long debate about Danish tradition, its roots in Kaare Klint’s school of furniture, and the quality of the design of that time. During the same period, Mogensen’s spoke back sofa from 1945 was re-launched by Fritz Hansen as the “most Danish” of all sofas. Does a ‘true’ Danish design exist? We will let the visitors decide.
The exhibition is open until 19 october 2014.
More design from Børge Mogensen:
Classic furniture designed by Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) has been part of Carl Hansen & Son’s … The Spanish Chair in a new edition Design: Børge Mogensen Designed for Fredericia in 1958, … In a harmonious blend of past and present, Fredericia is proud to reintroduce the Canvas … SINCE IT WAS FIRST PRESENTED IN 1958, BØRGE MOGENSEN’S TABLE BENCH HAS BEEN CHERISHED FOR … Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) was one of the most influential designers in shaping Danish Modern design … The family-owned design brand reintroduces the BM375 Nesting Tables, a classic wooden design from the … Inspired by Japanese interiors and Danish avant-garde art in Mogensen’s home, the popular wooden chair, … After almost seventy years, Fredericia is now reintroducing Børge Mogensen’s BM29 shelf, designed in 1956. … The J39 chair stands as one of the strongest manifestations of Børge Mogensen’s unmatched ability … 75 years of J39 This year, The J39 Mogensen Chair is celebrating its 75th birthday, the chair … CARL HANSEN & SON RELAUNCHES THE ASSERBO SERIES, DESIGNED BY BØRGE MOGENSEN FOR HIS OWN … J39 has won the hearts of design enthusiasts worldwide for more than seven decades, and … Børge Mogensen Conscious Danish modern reimagined by Mater in an upcycled WASTE edition using their … We are pleased to introduce The Spanish Chair by Børge Mogensen crafted in American walnut, … The BM67 Coffee Table has an understated authenticity that’s appealing to the modern conscious consumer. … Moving the attention to detail reserved for indoor furniture outside, Børge Mogensen’s Outdoor series is … In 1954 Børge Mogensen designed the Lynderup Chair. A chair that connects the past to … BM0555 X DUX CH18 A bed isn’t merely an investment piece for a good night’s … DUX in a unique collaboration with Carl Hansen & Søn Presenting a bed in design … Børge Mogensen’s outdoor series, which was first introduced to Carl Hansen & Son’s collection of … Carl Hansen & Son is expanding its Børge Mogensen collection with a flexible storage system … Shown for the first time at the 1958 Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Furniture Exhibition on a … Shown for the first time at the 1958 Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Furniture Exhibition on a … Simple, Structural with a Strong Presence The Canvas Chair is one of the last pieces … Introducing a special edition of The Spanish Chair and The Spanish Dining Chair in Deep … Carefully Calibrated for Comfort Slender yet solid, simple yet striking, the BM61 Chair and BM62 … Simple, Structural with a Strong Presence The Canvas Chair is one of the last pieces … SPANISH DINING CHAIR – RETURN OF AN ICON Fredericia revisits the Spanish Dining Chair designed … What sets Børge Mogensen apart from any other designer? It’s all captured in the Spanish … Børge Mogensen kopieret af Ralph Lauren november 30, 2016 by Erik Theil Det ses fra … BUILDING ON A SUCCESS STORY-NO.1 NOW AS AN ARMCHAIR Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) lacked neither opinions … THE SPANISH CHAIR IN NEW TONALITIES It was in 1955 that Fredericia Furniture entered into … FREDERICIA’S J39 CHAIR IN SIX NEW COLOURS The J39 dining chair is one of Børge … “My goal is to try to generate things that will serve people, and place the …
Beautiful joinery and unassuming aesthetics come together in Børge Mogensen’s Sideboard, designed in 1957
Introducing a new edition of Børge Mogensen’s iconic Spanish Chair – Fredericia
Fredericia reintroduces elegant 1960s The Canvas 21 Chair by Børge Mogensen
Børge Mogensen’s Minimalist Table Bench now with paper cord weave – Carl Hansen & Søn
My goal is to create items that serve people and give them the leading role, instead of forcing them to adapt to the items! Børge Mogensen
Fredericia relaunches the Nesting Tables design by Børge Mogensen
Børge Mogensen’s iconic J39 launches in artistic colours – Fredericia
Timeless shelf design by Børge Mogensen relaunched – Fredericia
Børge Mogensen’s popular J39 chair in new colours – Fredericia
This year, The J39 Mogensen Chair is celebrating its 75th birthday – Fredericia
Børge Mogensen’s Asserbo Series comprises a table and bench – Carl Hansen
Børge Mogensen’s iconic J39 turns 75 years old – Fredericia
Mater is launching a collection of chairs and tables designed in 1958 by Børge Mogensen in an upcycled WASTE edition
The Spanish Chair by Børge Mogensen crafted in American walnut – Fredericia
The BM67 Coffee Table – Designed by Børge Mogensen in 1956 and launched by Fredericia
Discover our Outdoor Colletion designed by Børge Mogensen – Carl Hansen & Søn
Introducing The Lynderup Chair by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
Rest in style – Carl Hansen & Søn in a unique collaboration with DUX by Børge Mogensen
DUX in collaboration with Carl Hansen & Søn presenting a bed by Børge Mogensen
The BM5565 Deck Chair with integrated footrest by Børge Mogensen – Carl Hansen
Børge Mogensen’s flexible shelving system in production for the first time
Børge Mogensen’s BM0488 Table Bench is being relaunched
Børge Mogensen’s BM0865 Daybed relaunched
The Black Canvas Chair by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
The Red Spanish Special Edition 2020 – Fredericia
BM61 Chair & BM62 Armchair by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
The Canvas Chair by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
Spanish Dining Chair – Fredericia
The Børge feeling – Fredericia
Børge Mogensen kopieret af Ralph Lauren
No. 1 now as an armchair by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
Spanish Chair in new tonalities design by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
J39 dining chair in six new colours by Børge Mogensen – Fredericia
Børge Mogensen 100 years, 23/1–19/10 2014
