DESIGN FROM DENMARK
Kirsten Bjerregaard [Editor]
Kirsten Bjerregaard [Editor]: DESIGN FROM DENMARK. Copenhagen, Denmark: World Pictures, CA. 1983. Original edition. A very good soft cover book with printed stiff wrappers and shelf wear including the back cover, which is foxed and rubbed. Interior unmarked and very clean. Out-of-print.
9.25 x 12.5 softcover book with 112 pages and approx. 300 color illustrations. DESIGN FROM DENMARK is a special edition of the annual publication DESIGN FROM SCANDINAVIA. It presents a selection of Danish products and some of the latest developments in furniture, textiles, applied art and industrial design.
From the Publisher: “World Pictures is a Danish, family-owned publishing house, specialising in richly illustrated design publications for professionals and private design lovers all over the world.” The best of Scandinavian Design smelling of comfort, wood, and sunshine.
All pieces are identified by name and manufacturers information concerning dimensions and finishes. I suspect this information could be useful to some people out there.
- Danish Public Environments
- Textiles
- Louisiana and Scanticon
- Peter Heering Cherry Liqueur
- Furs
- Bjorn Wiinblad's House
- Ole Kurtzau's Graphic Prints
- Den Permanente's Handicraft and Applied Arts Collection
- Danish Furniture
- Glass, Porcelain, and Silver
- Lighting
- Industrial Design
Represented firms include Illums Bolighus, Scanticon International, A. C. Bang, Den Permanente, Inter-House, Ivan Schlecter, Fritz Hansens Eft., SOOL, Erik Jørgensens Møbelfabrik, Magnus Olesen, Søren Willadsens Eft., Jeki Møbler, Labofa, Hybodan, Friis and Moltke, Randers Møbelfabrik, Ole Schjøll, Søren Horn, Bernt, Morten Olsen & Søns Møbelsnedkeri, Johannes Hansens Møbelsnedkeri, Sigurd Højland Olsen, P. P. Møbler, Wörts Møbelsnedkeri, Getama, Carl Hansen and Søn, Fredericia Stolefabrik, Erik Boisens Møbelfabrik, Botium, Kevi, Nipu Office Furniture, Odense Stole- og Møbelfabrik, Hvidt International Design, N. Eilersen A/S, J. L. Møllers Møbelfabrik, Weston, Gabriel, Kvadrat, A/S Chr. Fabers Fabriker, ege axeminster, Södahl, Kirsten Lundbergh, Hempel's Yacht Systems, A/S Herman Kähler, Eslau Keramik, Royal Copenhagen Porcelain, Asp-Holmblad, Holegaards Glasværk, Carl M. Cohr Silversmiths Ltd., Richard Nissen, Bang & Olufsen, Louis Poulsen, Lyfa-Fog & Mørup, Lampas, Focus Form, Maxam Lamp, A/S Nordisk Solar Compagni, Riscanco, Dansk International Designs, Stelton, Scancock Designs, GNT Automatic, and Blandford ApS among others.
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.”