makers ·

Mid Century Makers: Børge Mogensen

Børge Mogensen is an ebtd favourite.

And before you jump to any conclusions, it’s not because his name is a lot of fun to say (try not to say that 10 times today).

It’s not even because almost every piece he designed is now considered a classic, though we’d be lying if we said that didn’t sway our opinion.

We really like Mogensen because he seems, to us at least, to have been a bit of a hero.

He had a very clear idea of what good furniture looked like and he stuck to it the bitter end (Mogensen died in 1972 aged just 58).

While his contemporaries swayed with the influences of the time (even when it was to the detriment of their output) Mogensen remained true to his stripped-back, functionalist aesthetic: “My goal is to create things that will serve man…instead of, by the force of the devil, adapt man to the things.”

Don’t let that fool you into thinking he wasn’t open to new ideas either. On the contrary, he was always experimenting with new materials, most of which were sourced from the natural world—further proof for our mid century interiors argument.

But perhaps the main adjective used to describe the man is prolific. He left behind a vast catalogue of designs and was reportedly never not working.

The original design for the Hunting Chair, for example, was allegedly penned on a matchbox during a boozy night with friends.

Like we said, a bit of a hero.

Anyway, to the cheat sheet. Here’s everything you need to know about this Danish Modern designer in bitesize form.

Where to Buy Børge Mogensen Furniture

Good question. Some of the best MCM Mogensen designs like the Hunting Chair and the Spanish Chair are still in production through the likes of Fredericia.

However, if you decide to take the plunge, you can expect to pay a pretty penny.

If you want originals, you’ll need to Google mid-century modern furniture shops or head to re-seller sites like 1st Dibs and Pamono.

Be aware, though, that most vendors on these marketplaces will price their items to soften the blow of the commission taken on each sale.

You can, of course, exchange your hard-earned for any Børge Mogensen furniture that we have here in the UK.

Know that these pieces don’t tend to hang around for very long so don’t dither if you see what you want.

Where was Børge Mogensen From?

Aalborg, Denmark. He was born in 1914.

What did Børge Mogensen do?

He initially trained as a cabinet maker but also qualified as an architect at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ School of Architecture.

Where was Børge Mogensen furniture made?

Scandinavia. Most of it was made in Denmark for the likes of the aforementioned Fredericia and FDB.

But he also collaborated with Karl Andersson and Söner of Sweden so don’t assume something is suspect just because it wasn’t made in his homeland.

What is Børge Mogensen Furniture Made From?

Bit of a mixed bag, really.

Teak and oak feature prominently. Again, there’s a healthy mix between veneer and solid wood.

He also worked extensively, but not exclusively, with leather upholstery.

How to Identify Børge Mogensen Furniture

Not everything will be stamped and the pieces that are may feature the maker rather than the designer’s mark.

Again, don’t dismiss something because you can’t find his name on it.

As we mentioned, this guy was prolific. This can make the process of verifying a particular piece tiresome. However, if you have the energy, a site like danish-modern.co.uk is a great place to start.

Good news is that his designs were distinctive so you’re unlikely to have trouble telling two items apart.

What is the Børge Mogensen logo?

See above.

What is Børge Mogensen Most Famous For?

A ton of amazing designs for one. But he is also revered for his collaboration with the Danish co-operative FDB which created high-quality furniture at affordable prices.

He was also a close friend of the legendary Kaare Klint (Klint is widely considered Mogensen’s mentor) and Hans J. Wegner, which basically certifies him as a key player in the success of Danish Modern furniture.

What’s Børge Mogensen’s Most Famous Design?

Good question. The Spanish Chair and the Hunting Chair would be right up there.

However, our personal favourite would be the Spoke-Back Sofa. It’s just a brilliant design.

Is Børge Mogensen Furniture Valuable?

Absolutely.

Of course, everything is dependent on condition but the best pieces will fetch several thousands at auction.

Good news is, any Mogensen piece you can acquire will be made to the highest standards so don’t feel like you need to jump in at the deep end to get quality.

How to Care for Your Børge Mogensen Furniture

In terms of restoring and refinishing, it very much depends on the piece.

For example, you don’t want to start vigorously sanding back a veneer cabinet because you’ll quickly do irreparable damage.

In most cases, a good coat of Danish oil every six months should see you right.

If you have any specialist upholstery needs, we recommend you go to a professional as it’s easy to get wrong and expensive to fix.

Either way, do the basics right and each item you own will be in your collection for life.