A tribute to Arne

Our great friend and master architect Arne Vodder passed away on the evening of Sunday December 27th. It is with great sadness we say farewell to him.

Born in Denmark in 1926, architect Arne Vodder studied in Copenhagen under his friend and mentor the legendary Danish designer Finn Juhl. The pair later worked together as they went on to establish themselves as the pre-eminent Scandinavian designers of the mid-century period.


In 1951, Arne began collaborating with designer Anton Berg, the pair working together on over 1000 modular housing projects with one of the Denmark’s largest builders.

Over the next few years, Arne began working with Fritz Hansen, France & Son/Cado and Sibast, which launched a range of Arne Vodder furniture in 1959.

Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, Arne worked with Sibast, designing a range of furniture that found a huge market in corporate offices and banks throughout the United States.

His famous desk design was collected and used by the likes of United States President Jimmy Carter, Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi and an infamous Chicago gangster.

Arne’s designs from the period, with their stylish materials and exacting proportions, remain contemporary and modern; in strong demand more than 50 years after they were last produced.

Renowned for his trademark organic edges, coloured panels and rich timbers, Arne Vodder brings timeless beauty to everyday things.

With its unusual combination of timber, metal and colour, his iconic #26 sideboard, designed in 1959, is to this day impossible to improve.

We have lost a friend and a great talent. Our deepest sympathies to Jonna and the Vodder family.