Illum Wikkelsø “ML140” Three-Seater Sofa for A. Mikael Laursen & Søn, DK1950s

This “ML-140” three-seater sofa designed by Illum Wikkelsø for Michael Laursen is an all Danish collaboration and a typical representation of a true Mid-Century Modern sofa.

Spacious, functional and stylish: These are the words by which this model can be best characterised. The teak base is newly upholstered in premium full aniline leather. The impressive body is balanced out visually by the slim and simple lines, as well as the tapered legs. The colour of the teak wood is complimented by the subdued forest green colour of the upholstery. The embracing back- and armrests along with the three loose cushions further add to the comfortable and soft look of this modernist three-seater. The design feature that distinguishes this sofa from others is the pair of inverted, wooden arches at the bottom that adds further visual interest and shows off the craftsmanship of the manufacturer.

This sofa was manufactured by the Danish company founded in 1928, A/S Mikael Laursen in Århus. The company – just like the designer – stands for elegance and harmony with nature, in accordance with the philosophy of Danish design.

Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Newly upholstered in premium full aniline leather.

Dimensions:
87.79 in W x 31.10 in D x 28.34 in H; Seat height 16.14 in
223 cm W x 79 cm D x 72 cm H; Seat height 41 cm

About the designer:
Kristian Illum Wikkelsø (1919-1999), by his full name, is best known for his seating designs. Like most Danish designers at the time, Wikkelsø trained as a carpenter until 1938 and then followed in the footsteps of many of his later colleagues and continued his studies at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts, graduating on 1941.

In 1944, Wikkelsø moved to Århus to work as an interior designer He was then employed at the carpentry master and architect Jacob Kjær's drawing room and then at Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Nielsen’s architectural firm, where he worked until 1954. The same year, Illum Wikkelsø began designing his own furniture and a few years later, he established his own workshop. A number of Danish manufacturers produced Wikkelsø’s designs, such as C.F. Christensen, Holger Christiansen and Søren Willadsen.

Like many of his Danish contemporaries, including Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, and Hans Wegner, Wikkelsø’s designs emphasize formal simplicity and biomorphic silhouettes. Wikkelsø’s background in cabinetry engendered in him a profound understanding of materials and an excellent attention to detail. Working with teak and rosewood, he captured delicately sculptural forms. Wikkelsø believed that furniture should be built to last while cradling the body and pleasing the eye.

Though little biographical information survives, the quality of Illum Wikkelsø’s designs affirms his status as an active proponent of Scandinavian modernism in the post-war era. ~H.