The prolific Danish furniture designer Borge Mogensen was an important figure in his generation that brought the spotlight on and won high acclaim for Danish design. Alongside him are Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen. Like many of his Danish contemporaries, Mogensen became a cabinetmaker, studied furniture design at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen and then trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' School of Architecture. He set up his design studio in 1950. He was awarded the Eckersberg Medal in multiple years for his contributions of high artistic quality. Mogensen is known for his quality, affordable furniture pieces for the masses.
Mogensen’s most famous chair is the J39 (1947). Inspired by his acquaintance, professor Kaare Klint, and American Shaker furniture that eschewed unnecessary frills, putting the emphasis on stark lines and pure form, the Borge Chair was dubbed “The People’s Chair” for its universal appeal. The classically simple wooden chair has a hand woven seat and a single slat curved backrest.
Mogensen’s 2204 Wing Chair (1964) was inspired by Kaare Klint’s sofa designs in the 1920s. Mogensen managed to incorporate his own touch, as seen in the squared wooden legs. The 2204 Wing Chair also possesses distinctive curved side wings.
Mogensen designed the 2212-2213 Sofa (1962) for his home. He designed it around two tables that he sandwiched it between. The utter simplicity of the functional sofa makes it one of Mogensen’s most recognizable designs and ubiquitous in buildings and offices everywhere.
