Description

A stunning set of six Hovmand Olsen chairs with black vinyl seat pads. These elegant dining chairs were designed for the Danish manufacturer Mogens Kold and are made from teak.

Danish furniture designer Arne Hovmand-Olsen was born in Kirkeby Sogn in 1919. During his formative years, Hovmand-Olsen showed an aptitude for drawing and design and, in 1938, began a cabinetry apprenticeship with the cabinetmaker Peder Olsen Sibast at his eponymous furniture manufactory on Denmark’s island of Funen. Interested in producing his own designs, Hovmand-Olsen enrolled in a technical school specializing in furniture design in Århus in 1941. After graduating, he established his own furniture studio, creating designs in the Scandinavian modern style. His furniture was sold only in Denmark but later found great success when it began to be exported to America.

Hovmand-Olsen’s designs span seating, tables, and secretaries, all of which are characteristically simple in form with clean lines, organic curves, and tapered legs. Like many of his Danish contemporaries, he favoured the use of high-quality, beautifully grained woods like teak and rosewood. Notable designs include his Model 175 Chair (1955)—which is often mistaken for N.O. Møller’s Model 77 Chair due to their similar forms—and the Model 240 Lounge Chair for Mogens Kold (1958).

Hovmand-Olsen worked steadily designing furniture for companies such as Alf Juul Rasmussen, A. R. Klingenberg & Søn, Bramin, Elven Geertsen, J.L. Møller, Jutex, Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, P. Mikklesen, Pedersen & Knap, and Skovmand & Andersen. Sometime in the 1970s, he was forced to close his studio due to illness. Hovmand-Olsen passed away in 1989.
Mogens Kold Mobelfabrik produced some of the most coveted furniture of the mid 20th century. The revered Danish Furniture maker collaborated with some of Denmarks leading architects and designers to produce high end, progressive furniture that is highly sought after today. Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Ib Kofod Larsen and Nanna Ditzel are just a few of the big names that have collaborated with Mogens Kold to create timeless Danish masterpieces.

The history of Mogens Kold can be traced back to 1914 when the Kold family established the Kerteminde Steam Sawmill and Vognfabrik. After a fire in 1925, head of the family, Martin Kold moved the company to Copenhagen’s port area and developed it into the country’s largest hardwood sawmill.

In 1950, Martin’s son Mogens Kold, established Mogens Kold Mobelfabrik. The company quickly gained a reputation for its high end furniture designed by leading architects and designers. After a fire in 1958 Mogens Kold moved the company to a much larger factory and focused on exporting furniture to Europe, the UK and the burgeoning American market. Mogens Kold was always very interested in the process of design and in 1972 was involved in creating one of Denmark’s first design centres. In 1986 Mogens Kold handed over the business to his son Soren Cold. Unfortunately in the following year international sales plummeted and by the early 1990s the company was forced to cease production.

Approx. Dimensions – W48 D43 x H73cm (Seat Height – Approx 44cm)