BODIL KJAER ROSEWOOD WRITING DESK E. PEDERSEN & SON DENMARK MID 20TH CENTURY

A rare Bodil Kjaer Rio rosewood four drawer writing desk model 901 for E. Pedersen & Son Denmark on chrome steel base.

Denmark circa 1959.

It doesn’t get much more iconic than this….of Scandinavian origin designed by the renowned Danish architect, furniture designer, professor and researcher Bodil Kjaer and manufactured by E. Pedersen & Son of Denmark. The model 901 Executive Desk rose to fame after being featured in three James Bond movies… From Russia With Love (1963) You Only Live Twice (1967) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) and more recently Kingsman (2014). Owners include The Prince Philip (at Sandringham), Michael Caine and pianist Oscar Peterson.

This fine example model 901 executive desk was part of Kjaer’s Elements of Architectural series created from 1955 to 1963. A free-standing desk with to be used as a writing table, desk or ‘work table’ as Bodil referred to it. The idea of the desk according to Bodil was “that is should be suitable with modern art and architecture”.

The rectangular cassette top veneered in Rio rosewood with four recessed lockable drawers with conforming blind recessed frieze to the reverse raised on a chrome steel base. Retaining the original square gold plated keys which act a drawer pull.

In excellent condition with a wonderful colour this desk will make a fine addition and investment piece to any collection.

Its elegant, sleek form along with fine proportions has made this one of the most desirable desks of the 20th century…..it has also been known as ‘The most beautiful desk in the world’

Bodil Kjaer born in 1932

Kjær decided to be an architect at age 12…in 1951 she attended the Copenhagen School of Interior Design (now the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Design), where she was tutored by Danish Modern pioneer Finn Juhl.

She earned a two-year scholarship from the Scandinavian-American Foundation, and traveled to the U.S., where she worked for designer Paul McCobb and Boston’s Contract Interiors. Later, she moved to the U.K. to study at the Royal College of Art and the Architectural Association School of Architecture; she remained in London to work for engineering firm Arup, where she helped introduce flexible work environments for the likes of Oxford University, Penguin Books, and IBM. Now, while she’s technically retired, Kjær travels internationally to lecture on her work and approach.

Dimensions
Width 72 1/2 inches - 184cm
Height 28 1/4 inches - 72cm
Depth 36 1/2 inches - 93cm
Knee height 23 3/4 inches - 60cm