Elm Wood Armchair by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Denmark 1948

This rare armchair by Danish design duo Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen was first presented at ‘The Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition’ at Designmuseum Danmark in its design year, in 1948.

This chair’s frame is quite distinctive; the arms appear to be clasping the seat, while the straight lines of the legs and back are broken by the flowing shape of the armrests. The backrest is unattached to the seat which creates a feeling of weightlessness, which is further amplified by the light bouclé upholstery. Another distinctive feature are the stretchers set parallel, both between the front and the back legs. These stretchers brace and hold together the two side sections of the legs giving structural firmness. The back legs are slightly tapered and directly connect to the back.

Many of the pieces by Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen from the 1950s were designed in more expensive woods such as teak or mahogany tended to be exported rather than sold to the home market. This beautiful armchair however, is made from elm wood, which suggests that this model was meant for the Danish market rather than for export. The design, which is made of solid wood and features characteristic shapes and lines also supports this, for as several of Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen’s later plywood models were stackable, meant for mass production. Elm wood is known for its great qualities, it does not split and when in contact with water, elm resists decay as well. Elm wood has an appealing grain but is not the easiest to work with, which praises the cabinetmaker, Gustav Bertelsen’s handiwork.

Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Marks and scratches. Few joints partly later lacquered. The chair has been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric.

Dimensions:
24.8 in W x 21.65 in D x 35.82 in H; Seat height 20.07 in
63 cm W x 55 cm D x 91 cm H; Seat height 51 cm

Literature:
Grete Jalk [ed.]: “40 Years of Danish Furniture Design”, vol. 3, p. 44-45.

About the Designer:
Hvidt & Mølgaard was a Copenhagen-based, Danish design and architectural firm which existed from 1944 until 2009. Founded by Peter Hvidt (1916-1986) and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen (1907-1993), the company was a pioneering force in Danish furniture design and industrialized production in the 1950s, creating furniture that was easy to mass-produce and economic to transport.

Danish architect-designer Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen was born in 1907. His formative years were spent in Copenhagen, studying at the Aalborg Technical School and at the Art and Crafts School of the Design Museum (graduating in 1928). From 1931 until 1934, he continued his studies in furniture design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts under the instruction of Danish master Kaare Klint (1888-1954). Peter Hvidt was born in Copenhagen in 1916. He studied architecture and cabinetry at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Subsequently, he worked at various design firms before establishing his own studio in 1942.

In 1944, Hvidt designed the Portex Chair, which was one of Denmark’s first stacking chairs. Hvidt, whose design aesthetic was characterized as traditional throughout the 1940s, exhibited frequently at the Cabinetmaker's Guild exhibitions, as both a designer and architect.

In 1944, the pair co-established Hvidt & Mølgaard Studio, which they ran together until 1975. During this time, the pair created designs for Fritz Hansen, France & Søn, and Søborg Møbelfabrik. In 1950, the pair designed the AX Chair, which solidified both of their careers as industrial designers and became an icon of Danish mid-century design. It was the first Danish chair that was crafted with both a seat and back made of curved laminated wood.

From the 1970s, Hvidt & Mølgaard focused on architectural projects, which spanned office buildings and factories, as well as collective housing projects. They were known for their light, simple, and clear designs, which were carried out with precision. Both Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen retired in 1975, designing over 256 pieces of furniture together over the course of their careers. Their work can be found at New York’s MoMA, the National Gallery in Melbourne, and the Danish Museum of Art & Design in Copenhagen. ~H.