Mobilia no. 44–45
March-April 1959
Gunnar Bratvold [Publisher], Grete Jalk, Jesper Høm [Editors]
Gunnar Bratvold [Publisher], Grete Jalk, Jesper Høm [Editors]: Mobilia no. 44–45. Snekkersten, Denmark: Mobilia, Volume XXV, March-April 1959. Original edition. Text in Danish and English. Perfect bound and side stapled wrappers. 76 [xciv] pp. One fold out. Multiple paper stocks. Fully illustrated articles in black and white. Period furniture advertisements. Pages 55-58 bound in duplicate. Wrappers light worn but a very good or better copy.
10.25 x 10.18 magazine with 76 pages of articles and 94 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]. “
- Kosta Glasbruk: 14 pages
- Aagaard Andersen’s Relief with Reflected Light: 10 pages
- Svenska Möbelmässan: The Eighth Swedish Furniture Fair in Stockholm, February 12-15, 1959. 48 page illustrated profile.
Features work by Finn Juhl, Grete Jalk, Vicke Lindestrand, Carl Malmsten, Yngve Ekstrøm, Gunnar Myrstrand, Erik Herløv, Hans Olsen, Poul Volters, Edv. Kindt-Larsen, Karl-Erik Ekselius, Yngve Ekström, Erik Buck, E. Kandell, Sten Engdahl, Tage Olofsson, Børge Mogensen, and more.
Includes advertising work by France & Son A/S, L. F. Foght, A. Wahl Iversen, O. Gjerløv-Knudsen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk A/S, Anton Borg & Arne Vodder, C. F. Christensen A/S, Arthur Carlsson, Kaare Klint, Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier, Alf. Juls Rasmussens, Johs. Andersen, Gabriel, G. Thams, A/S Vejen Polstermøbelfabrik, Munch’s Møbelfabrik, Hugo Troeds, Nils Jonsson, Poul M. Jessen, H. Brockmann Petersen, A/S Kolds Savværk, Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel, Ry Møbler A/S, A/P Stolen, Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn, Getama, Kleppes Møbelfabrik, Bendt Winge, Vinde Møbelfabrik, Ab Emmaboda Møbelfabrik, Kurt Østervig, P. Jeppersen, Jørgen Bo & Wilhelm Wohlert, Thv. Gaarder, Rastad & Relling, Fredrik A. Kaiser, Vatne Lenestolfabrikk, Gerhard Berg, Hareid Bruk, Bahus, A/S Stilén, Aage Pedersen, Kay Kørbing, Scandia, R. Wengler, Den Blaa Fabrik, Hans Olsen, A/S N. A. Jørgensens Møbelfabrik, Sibast-Møbler, Kai Kristiansen, S. B. Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Seffle, Viola Grasten, Skalma, Juul Kristensen, Viskadalens Möbelindustri, Ege Tæpper, Erling Torvitts, Alf Johannesson, Henning Jorgensen, K. O. Westberg, Sigurd Hansens, Sadolins, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Svend Age Hansen, 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, Raymor 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.”