The “Model 214” sofa was designed by Danish designer and architect Kurt Olsen during the 1960s and unifies some of the best characteristics of the Danish mid-century modern movement’s design aesthetic and craftsmanship.

Like many of his contemporaries, Olsen was also a trained architect, which is evident in the stained beech frame of this sofa. The architectural precision and design are evident even under the upholstery and especially when looking at the exposed arms. Olsen liked to find non-conventional ways to present the area where the legs and armrests meet, in this case by connecting the arms to the legs seamlessly with precise and pronounced angles. Overall, this sofa combines function and aesthetics in a striking manner, keeping the form in service of the user while remaining inherently elegant and modern. The round, but cleanly defined shape of the body and the straight, slender beech arms and legs complement each other, resulting in a harmonious appearance. The lower structure truly shows off the special attention to functionality, with stretchers running under the seat for stability. Thanks to this, the upholstered body appears to be sitting effortlessly on the delicate frame almost as if it was unattached to it. This praises both the design and the execution by Danish manufacturer, Slagelse Møbelværk. Visually, the most outstanding feature is how the upholstery engages with the frame, which is most apparent on the armrests, where the fabric “grasps” the wood. In the mid-fifties, Kurt Olsen designed for Slagelse Møbelvaerk where master joiners A. Andersen and Bohm made a lot of his designs. This sofa is also an outstanding result of this fruitful collaboration.

As the clearly lined wooden frame of this sofa contrasts beautifully with the upholstered body, this sofa has a very photographic appearance. Due to the well-chosen proportions, materials and expert level of cabinetmaking, this “model 214” sofa is a classic example of Danish mid-century modern design history.

SOLD

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Some small scratches and stains on the wood. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in a premium fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.

Dimensions:

64.96 in W x 31.49 in D x 34.25 in H; Seat height 17.71 in; Arm height 23.22 in

165 cm W x 80 cm D x 87 cm H; Seat height 45 cm; Arm height 59 cm

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.