Mobilia no. 35–36
June-July 1958
Svend Erik Møller et al [Editors]
Gunnar Bratvold [Publisher], Robert Corydon, Grete Jalk, Svend Erik Møller, Jesper Høm [Editors]: Mobilia no. 35–36. Snekkersten, DK: Mobilia, Volume XXIV, June-July 1958. Original edition. Text in Danish and English. Perfect bound and side stapled wrappers. 56 [xxxviii] pp. Multiple paper stocks. Fully illustrated articles in black and white and 8 pages of color photography and period furniture advertisements. Wrappers light worn but a very good or better copy.
10.25 x 10.18 magazine with 56 pages of articles and 38 pages of period furniture advertisements. The editors described their magazine thus: “Mobilia is an international subscription periodical for furniture, art, handicraft, etc. Mobilia is published in two issues, one of them in Danish and English, and the other one in Swedish and German, the text having been translated as a whole. Mobilia is issued to all members of Møbelfabrikantforeningen i Danmark [The Association of Danish Furniture manufacturers], of Møbelhandlernes Centralforening i Danmark [The Association of Furniture Dealers in Denmark], and of Indendørs Arkitekt Foreningen [The Association of Interior Architects]; in Sweden a collective subscription has been taken by Sveriges Möbelindustriförbund [The Association of Swedish Furniture Manufacturers]. “
- Mobilia Scandinavia: ”a retrospective view of the three best furniture fairs of the year: Scandinavian Furniture in Helsingborg, the Furniture Fair in Frederica, and the Norweigian National Fair in Oslo.”
- The placing of the exhibit
- The exhibition building
- Further perspectives of the exhibition & conditions of the export
- New models through prize contests
- Fight against the plagiarisms
- Future furniture designers
Features work by Gunnar Sørlie Torbjørn Afdal, Finn Juhl, Hans J. Wegner, Vilhelm Wohlert, Carl Fagerlund, Knud Joos, Kurt Østervig, Fredrik A. Kaiser, Frode Braathen, Orrefors Glasbruk, Rastad & Relling, Lard Hjelle, Ejner Larsen, Bender Madsen, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Erik Ostermann, Harry Moen, F. A. Kaiser, Børge Mogensen, Hans Olsen, Arne Jacobsen, Frank Reenskaug, Erik Korshagen, Arne Vodder, Kai Kristiansen, Illum Wikkelsø, N. O. Møller, Grete Jalk, Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel, Ronny Heuschkel, Sverre Solemdal, Westbergs Tranås, Einar Barnes, Karl-Erik Ekselius and more.
Includes advertising work by Hovmand-Olsen, A/S Mogens Kold, L. F. Foght, A/S Anton Kildeberg, A. Wahl Iversen, Mrs. Tove Kindt-Larsen, Gabriel, A/S N. Eilersen Skamby, A/S Anilin & Kemikalie Compagniet, Finn Juhl, Nanna & Jorgen Ditzel, Sorø Stolefabrik, Møbelfabriken Falster Nykøbing, Kai Kristiansen, France & Son, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Swedecraft Collection, Fredrik A. Kaiser, Arthur Carlsson, Erik Buck, Poul Hundevad, K. E. Ekselius, Vetlanda, Axel Thygesen, Ejner Larsen, A. Bender Madsen, K. Rasmussen, Sigurd Hansens Møbelfabrik, Aage Sattrup, Yngve Ekström, Den Blaa Fabrik, Frode Braathen & Hans Brattrud, Rastad & Relling, Dokka Møbler, A/S Kolds Savværk, Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. Wegner, Ap-Stolen, Getama, Kurt Østervig, Rolf Hesland, Bruksbo, Torbjørn Afdal, Aarhus. Illum Wikkelsø, Erling Torvits, Harry Øsergaard, Cotil, Arne Jacobsen, and more.
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 1957 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 1959 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.”