MODERN DANISH FURNITURE
Povl Dinesen
Povl Dinesen: MODERN DANISH FURNITURE. Copenhagen / Wiesbaden: Povl Dinesen Cabinetmaker, n. d [February 1965]. Text in English. Thick photo illustrated wrappers. 96 pp. Fully illustrated with black and white photographs and diagrams throughout. Four-page price list dated February 1965 laid in. Furniture catalog. Owners signature to front cover. Wrappers lightly worn and pulled from textblock. Sewn binding still secure. A couple of pen checkmarks throughout, otherwise interior unmarked and very clean. A very good copy of an invaluable reference document.
8.25 x 11.75 softcover furniture catalog with 96 pages fully illustrated with black and white photographs and diagrams. All pieces are identified by name, designer and manufacturers information concerning dimensions and finishes. I suspect this information could be useful to some people out there.
- DINING ROOM FURNITURE
- Dining Tables
- Dining Chairs
- Sideboards & China Cabinets
- Teacarts
- LIVING ROOM FURNITURE
- Sofas & Chairs
- Coffee Tables, End Tables & Nest Of Tables
- Sewing Tables
- Planters
- Bar Cabinets & Bar Chair
- Hi-Fi Cabinets
- DESK & STORAGE UNITS
- Storage Units
- Room Divider
- Wallhanging Units
- Desks
- Desk Chairs
- BEDROOM FURNITURE
- Wardrobes
- Mattresses & Springs
- Chest of Drawers, Etc.
- Bedroom Chairs
- Floor & Table Lamps
- The Story of Teak
Includes designs by Povl Dinesen, Arne Jacobsen, N. O. Møller, Hvidt & Mølgaard, Arne Vodder, Finn Juhl, H. Kjaernulf, Grete Jalk, Kurt Østervig, Erik Buch, Erik Wörtz, Helge Sibast, Johns. Andersen, Hovmand Olsen, Hans J. Wegner, Sven Engstrøm & Gunnar Myrstand, Ib Kofoed-Larsen, K. Winding, P. Jeppersen, Ingvard Jensen, Frank Reenskaug, Axel Stensen, Folke Ohlsson & Alf Svensson, Gjerløv & Lind, Edv. Kindt-Larsen, R. Hansen, Børge Mogensen, Kai Lyngfeldt Larsen, K. B. Simonsen, Kai Kristiansen, Svend A. Madsen, E. Kirkegaard, Torben Strandgaard, and Verner Panton.
In 1954 the four Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland arranged what proved to be the most important marketing effort ever for Scandinavian design—the monumental exhibition Design in Scandinavia. From 1954 to 1963 Design in Scandinavia toured the United States and Canada. The exhibition was presented in 27 cities, and it was a huge success, initiated by The Danish Society of Arts and Crafts and its sister organizations in the other participating countries.
Based on the success the four countries established what they called the Scandinavian Design Cavalcade, which had a lot of US press coverage as well. In that connection the July 1963 issue of House Beautiful was centered around The Scandinavian Look in U.S. Homes, and it was Denmark and Danish Design in particular that the magazine focussed on. Besides the editorial pages, the numerous ads illustrates that Danish modern furniture was increasingly gaining a stronghold among certain groups of American consumers.
Importers and retail chains like John Stuart Inc., George Tanier, Raynor and Dunbar etc. now sold Danish modern furniture in the US, and by now it was not only hand crafted furniture from the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions but also pieces from industrial furniture producers like Fritz Hansen, Søborg Møbelfabrik, Fredericia Furniture and many others. From the end of the 1950s Danish Department stores and other retailers produced comprehensive brochures and booklets in English with prices in US Dollars presenting Danish Design to American and other tourists.
Without exception, these stores all presented the narrative of Danish modern. “Denmark is known all over the world for its exquisite home furnishing, which are characterized by their outstanding design and superb craftsmanship” the department store Magasin claimed in its brochure “Danish Design.”