Description

This vintage teak desk was originally designed as a dressing table by leading Danish furniture designer Ib Kofod Larsen for the British maker G Plan in the 1960s. A stylish piece of cabinetry, with simple, uncluttered lines, this is a fine piece of mid century furniture that makes a super laptop desk. Its four drawers provide lots of storage space but it’s the design details that make this a stand out item. From those round, typically Danish tapering legs to the beautiful drawer handles, handcrafted from rosewood.

Furniture designer Ib Kofod-Larsen was born Denmark in 1921 and studied at the Danish Royal Academy in Copenhagen. In 1948, he won the Holmegaard glass competition as well as an annual award from the Danish Cabinetmakers Guild. The latter drew the attention of Danish furniture manufacturer Faarup Møbelfabrik, and Kofod-Larsen went on to create some of his most beautiful works for the company during the 1950s. He also designed furniture for several other leading mid century manufacturers, both at home and abroad, including Christensen & Larsen, Bovenkamp, Petersens, and Fredericia Furniture.

Kofod-Larsen frequently worked with gorgeous woods, such as teak and rosewood, as well rich leathers. Clean, sculptural lines characterize much of his work. Notable designs include the U-56 or Elizabeth Chair (1956), composed of a light teak frame and upholstered leather that was purported to have been named for England’s Queen Elizabeth II after she purchased a pair during a visit to Denmark in 1958; as well as the airy and modern Penguin chair (1953). Kofod-Larsen’s striking teak and leather-upholstered Sälen (or Seal) easy chairs for OPE (also 1950s) have become increasingly popular on the vintage market in recent years. Today, his pieces have become highly collectable, in large part due to Kofod-Larsen’s talent for honouring the innate qualities of his chosen materials.

By the 1960s, the Scandinavian look was sweeping international design, and British-made furniture was being outsold by Danish imports. To compete, G Plan engaged Kofod-Larsen to create new collections in fine woods, like teak and rosewood. These Danish Range pieces are rare, sought-after and truly beautiful.

Stylish, structurally sound, in super condition and ready for use in your home with, as you’d expect, some signs of age and use.

W158 x D46 x H69cm (Kneehole W56 x H65cm)