This pair of “Model 223” armchairs are classic examples of mid-century Scandinavian design. The design is timeless and modern with great attention to quality and function.

The Danish designer, Kurt Olsen is known as a furniture architect who liked to find unconventional ways to connect the back- and armrests with the legs. In this model’s case, the back legs support the backrest, while the paddle-shaped armrests are connected to the front legs. The turned frame is made of solid Brazilian rosewood. Kurt Olsen designed the heavy rosewood frame of this particular model for Slagelse Mobelvaerk, which builds character for the chair. This chair design is fairly wide and can easily cater to be used as an easy chair or a desk chair as well. The joinery of the armrests is reminiscent of Hans Wegner.

The deep green upholstery compliments the rosewood frames beautifully, creating an elegant look. “Model 223” was originally sold at the Illums Bolighus flagship store in Copenhagen, the illustrious retailer founded in 1925 that showcased the era’s iconic designs.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs have been recently reupholstered in a premium fabric.

Dimensions:

25.19 in W x 21.85 in D x 31.10 in H; Seat height 18.50 in

64 cm W x 55.5 cm D x 79 cm H; Seat height 47 cm

Literature

Grete Jalk [ed.], “40 Years of Danish Furniture Design”, Vol. 3, p. 315.

About the designer:

Kurt Olsen is one of the more anonymous designers, even though his designs are well-known and truly stunning. Mid-fifties Kurt Olsen designed primarily for the Danish manufactory, Slagelse Møbelvaerk, where master joiners A. Andersen and Bohm made a lot of his designs. This collaboration resulted in an array of seating furniture culminating in his masterpiece lounge- and armchairs.

Furniture from Slagelse Møbelvaerk is considered to be essential in any good collection of Danish mid-century furniture. The Danish furniture manufacturer produced a substantial part of many Danish designers’ models between the 1940s and 1970s, including Kurt Ostervig, Arne Vodder, Ib Kofod-Larsen, and Kurt Olsen.

Slagelse collaborated with an array of renewing Danish designers to bring new and daring designs. At Slagelse Møbelvaerk, Kurt Olsen and his fellow designers got to work with a team of highly skilled craftsmen, who allowed their designs’ complex shapes and joints to take form. ~H.