Had a meeting with Snerkergaarden, they make Nanna Ditzel Easy Chairs which we love and are planning to have by the end of this year. Surprisingly, only because they seemed quite old school they had some really outstanding designs, one by an old guy who also works with Frederica and a young guy apparently about 30, and the table the young guy designed was fantastic, quite modern, but all wood and with some really beautiful details, it really reminded me of some of Haslev's work, but with a bit more of an edge to it.
The factory has been around I think since about 1905, and mainly focuses on the cabinet making, and really lovely work made all with solid wood.
Then we drove to Moller to pick up a chair to see if it would work with another new table that is being made by Axel Kirsko. We bumped into John Moller, the son of Niels Moller, the grandson of J.L Moller. He was a real character and we just couldnt stop him reminiscing about his childhood and the history of Moller.
The factory was started by his grandfather before WWII, around 1930’s in typical Danish style, he made a piece of furniture for himself and then the neighbor asked him to make one for him. It grew to 8 people, but unfortunately he had passed away and left the company to his wife, who had no experience. The Foreman was left to run the company, who unfortunately was taking her for a ride and then the war came and the company collapsed and she bought back the shares that had been sold to the foreman.
Then it was Nils Moller who started it again. He was a cabinet maker and worked in the UK for a while and then studied in Orhus. He then started designing. I asked Jorn where his inspiration came from and it was mainly from jewelry in Museums. He would drag Jorn around to the Museums on the weekends and would finD forms and shapes in the jewellery that appealed to him.
Having known this for the first time, I can see the inspiration, especially as his chairs are so organic and certainly have a fine delicate nature that you see in jewelry. He designed the 71 in the late 30’s and Jorn said his dad would design then work with the makers and then would put the chair away for a year to let it rest, so he could look at it with fresh eyes. He would do this 4-5 times so it would take 5 years for every new design. Now that is how to resolve something!
Jorn and his friends were roped into working at the factory, putting on the metal stamps that are on all the old versions, he said he was paid less than 1 cent per piece. There was a guy there who I have seen every time I go to the factory, I always wondered how old he was, 73 and had worked for more than 40 years at the factory papercording. He was a charming old guy and remembered when Jorn was a boy.
Jorn showed us through the factory, and though I had been through before with the manager Morten, is always interesting to see it from the owners point of view.
.jpg)
Inspired by the iconic male and female symbols who direct us safely across the street, the Jack n Jill coat hooks are an individual and personable addition to your home, kids rooms or office space.
oren and talked with Daniel and went over the details of the sideboard and the dining table, we also had very fortuitously found a very rare example of one of the bedsides and the hall table in Palisander, which I must say in 6 years of looking for furniture, I have never seen either. It seemed unreal they should be found now of all times, when we are about to re launch the design. On top of which Arne later told me he thinks Sibast only made around 50 of the hall tables, so its quite a find.
room for more info.
ed another chair, which I have always know as Niels Vodder or Finn Juhl, but Arne and I talked about this and he corrected me that this was his work and could really see the influence of Finn Juhl, the organic nature of the chair, the bird like structure, very reminiscent of Juhl. .jpg)
.jpg)
Illhums Bolighus - Copenhagen's Premium Department Store - with more than 450 of the best Scandinavian and international brands. I always visit here as it is a great source of inspiration for me - check out their current Finn Juhl installation - so beautiful. This is Scandinavian Emporium at its finest.
Our new Sales Agent Rasmus took me the to Dansk Kunst museum today, othwerwise known as the Danish Musuem of Art & Design. I remember last time I was here with my very round, very pregnant wife!
Rasmus has a contact there, Christian who runs the museum. We met and had a great chat about AV’s work. He was thrilled to find out we were putting it back into production and asked if we might be able to organize for a vintage piece of AV’s work for them and for any of Arne’s drawings or sketches for their collection. It was great to meet someone who lives and breathes what we do every day.
Arne and I are meeting in the next day to talk about what else is possible in regards to designs and I am excited at the prospect of looking over old drawings and sketches he has done, we are particularly interested in some of his easy chairs and I also hope to ask if we can look at designing a sofa together!
I am also of course here searching out beautiful vintage furniture for our clients and know I will be sending back some stunning examples, I intent to post a few this time, which I normally don’t, to give you a sneak peak.
I'm back in Denmark - the weather here is beautiful, lots of sunlight which makes the Danes even happier than they usually are.
When I first started working with Arne Vodder (AV) in February, we only really discussed the famous sideboard as it is such an iconic piece and depending on the model and wood is fetching around $15,000 AUD. I have been collecting and putting away a small range of Arne’s work, including his bedside chests, chests of drawers and a sideboard all of which have the distinctive organic handle/drawer and I intend to bring these pieces out of hiding when we launch the new AV range.
The 1st 10 items produced of each design will be numbered and signed by Arne Vodder himself, and will be offering these exclusively to our Great Dane clients.
They tell me its approaching that time of year again - you know, the time when people make that huge leap into Happily Ever After??
tton, Lizzy Lovette and Adam Spencer to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.
Then we drove to Moller to pick up a chair to see if it would work with another new table that is being made by Axel Kirsko. We bumped into John Moller, the son of Niels Moller, the grandson of J.L Moller. He was a real character and we just couldnt stop him reminiscing about his childhood and the history of Moller.
