Danish Three-Seater Sofa in Sheepskin with Stained Beech Legs, Denmark circa 1940s (sold)






























Danish Three-Seater Sofa in Sheepskin with Stained Beech Legs, Denmark circa 1940s (sold)
The Danish Modern movement was not just an artistic response to the changing times but a reflection of the country’s ethos – simplicity, functionality, and a harmonious connection with nature. It was in this environment that the seeds of the Danish Modern movement were sown, eventually growing into a design philosophy that would transcend borders, influencing architects, designers, and homeowners across continents.
The design elements of this sofa - from the curving lines, to the dark wood and luxurious upholstery - not only create an intimate gathering place, but also define the look of a room. The enveloping shape is very apparent, enhanced by the slightly inward curving backrest and voluptuous seat. Visually, this three-seater sofa represents Danish modernism in several ways; mainly, it rejects the traditional elements of styles of the past, such as heavy ornamentation and visual historicism. The sheepskin upholstery stands out, adding to the modern elegance and cosiness of this piece. This sofa’s form draws users back to the idea of design as an intelligent problem-solving of a space, rather than vapid styling. The 20th century Nordic designers were masters at achieving this, aided by the craftsmanship skill of cabinetmakers who helped to manifest their ideas.
In Danish design, things are made to last rather than to be replaced, as the home is meant to enhance an unburdened lifestyle. Living well is in itself a form of art, and furniture design is meant to complement it. This sofa is ideal to serve this purpose in an elegant, comfortable, and stylish manner.
SOLD
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin. 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:
73.62 in W x 37.20 in D x 31.10 in H; Seat height 18.70 in; Seat depth 21.65 in; Arm height 24.80 in
187 cm W x 94.5 cm D x 79 cm H; Seat height 47.5 cm; Seat depth 55 cm; Arm height 63 cm
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Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur
In the years after the Second World War, Danish designers quietly transformed the language of modern furniture. Moving away from the austerity of early functionalism, they explored a softer, more organic approach to furniture making, balancing clean geometry with inviting tactility. Designers experimented with sculptural silhouettes that felt approachable yet sophisticated, often pairing fine craftsmanship with innovative upholstery techniques to achieve furniture that was elegant but deeply comfortable.
This three-seater sofa from the 1950s beautifully embodies that ethos. Its gently flared arms and subtly tilted backrest give the piece a graceful, almost embracing profile, while the deep seat promises true comfort. The upholstery, a textured, off-white fabric, adds warmth and tactile richness, complementing the restrained lines of the frame. Tufted button detailing across the backrest introduces a sense of rhythm and craftsmanship, elevating the sofa from purely functional seating to a thoughtfully composed piece. The proportions are carefully judged: generous enough for lounging yet visually light, with raised wooden legs that lift the form and prevent it from feeling heavy. It is a design that invites long hours of conversation or quiet rest without sacrificing visual elegance.
Timeless yet unmistakably mid-century, this Danish sofa carries a quiet sophistication that transcends trends. Both practical and poetic, it stands as a reminder that modernism at its best is deeply attuned to the rhythms of everyday living. Danish makers became masters at this balance, producing pieces that could be both understated and richly expressive.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Item may have some marks, scratches, and discolouration. The sofa has recently been reupholstered in premium sheepskin. Each of our items can be reupholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
Dimensions:
75.59 in W x 37.79 in D x 37 in H; Seat height 20.86 in; Seat depth 22.44 in; Arm height 25.19 in
192 cm W x 96 cm D x 94 cm H; Seat height 53 cm; Seat depth 57 cm; Arm height 64 cm
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Price category: 7,500 - 10,000 usd / eur
This gorgeous daybed with dark wood legs was inspired by classic Scandinavian furniture design and simplicity. ‘Nordic Modern’ is a recognized term around the world, standing for the characteristic style of the Nordic countries’ design created during the 20th century. Pieces from the mid-century era, like this daybed, are characterized by clarity in design and extremely high-quality craftsmanship and choice of materials.
The streamlined solid wood frame of this model features a robust, fully upholstered top, and sturdy wood legs. From the minimalistic design to the focus on the wood, this daybed has the characteristics of “honest” design that has been a core concept among Scandinavian furniture designers and makers. The sleek look is the result of the clean lines, functional design and expert craftsmanship. Furthermore, in the absence of ornamentation, the luxurious upholstery stays in focus, utilizing the sheepskin’s texture to break the straight lines visually. If there is a single common denominator for Nordic Modern, it is not so much the design or form as the quality of the execution, the woodwork and the upholstery. This daybed excels in these areas, bringing modernism and quality to any space.
Scandinavia has a long history of furniture-making. Through the 19th century, the area also had a very strong tradition of cabinetmaking, or producing traditional furniture by hand. In the early 20th century, these cabinetmaking traditions began to merge with modern forces like industrialization; this daybed however, is a handmade piece that remains quite rare.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. This daybed has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin. 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:
78.7 in W x 36.61 in D x 14.56 in H
200 cm W x 93 cm D x 37 cm H
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Price category: 7,500 - 10,000 usd / eur
A desire for functionalism went hand in hand with understatement, refinement, and elegance. The Danish mid-century furniture designer was concerned with graceful proportions and restrained, harmonious ornament while reinstating the ideals of fine craftsmanship. He desired sleekness. He revered the maxim “form follows function.”
This spectacular daybed is essentially a simple, refined design standing on solid wood legs. What makes it stand out is its opulent upholstery. Yak hide provides warmth, and wherever they are placed, they provide an attractive Nordic look. Renowned for its decadent thickness and length, this material has been the accessory of choice for modernist architects and designers throughout the 1950s. Today they are perfect for creating the mid-century look in any space. This daybed - unlike sofa beds - can be easily placed and used as a bench in large entryways, next to windows, or at the foot of a bed thanks to its functionality. Thanks to its visual qualities, mainly the yak hair’s lush texture and colour, this infinitely cosy daybed can also function as a kind of sculpture to break the mostly straight lines of any minimalistic space.
Characterized by functionality, simplicity and clean lines, Danish design is all about harmony. Here, the pairing of the materials creates this balance as the understated wooden structure complements and supports the extravagant yak hide. Danish design also left much room for individuality thanks to which this daybed is one of a kind with its stylish edge.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The legs are a later replacement. This daybed has been reupholstered recently in premium yak hide. 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:
74.8 in W x 29.13 in D x 17.32 in H
190 cm W x 74 cm D x 44 cm H
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Price category: 9,000 - 12,500 usd / eu
This spectacular two-seater sofa by Swedish designer, Svante Skogh, is a rather rare example of the interior and furniture designer’s repertoire. With a creative and masterfully crafted wooden structure and fully upholstered body, this model deserves the limelight in Swedish design history.
This sofa combines function and aesthetic in a striking manner, keeping the form in service of the user while keeping it elegant and modern. The union of the shell-shaped body and the back legs’ structure define this model. The round, welcoming lines of the body and the straight, smooth lines of the arms and legs complement each other, resulting in a harmonious appearance. The back legs not only support the bodies, but also rise to form the support for the armrests. The clear lined wooden frame of this sofa contrasts beautifully with the sheepskin covered body and gives it a very photographic appearance. The armrests’ peculiar concave angle is a small, but ingenious detail, that highlights their form and creates a focal point. Due to the well-chosen proportions, angled back, and the high-quality of the cabinetry and upholstery, this two-seater sofa is outstandingly comfortable. With determination and intensive marketing, the manufacturer, Seffle Möbelfabrik grew to become one of Western Sweden's largest furniture companies during the 1930s.
In Sweden, “svensk design” (Swedish design) in particular operates as a set of relations linking the everyday world - composed of objects, spaces, people - to the cultural ideologies that motivate the persistence of a social democratically infused “way of life.” Thanks to this sentiment, cabinetmakers, like at Seffle Möbelfabrik, put an emphasis on soft elegance and functionality, making this sofa model timeless in every sense of the word.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin.
Dimensions:
52.95 in W x 31.5 in D x 31.1 in H; Seat height 18.11 in; Arm height 23.23 in
134.5 cm W x 80 cm D x 79 cm H; Seat height 46 cm; Arm height 59 cm
About the designer:
Swedish furniture designer Svante Skogh is best known for his mid-century designs produced by Seffle (sometimes spelled as Säffle) Möbelfabrik. Throughout his career in the 1950s and 1960s, he worked with a number of furniture producers. Despite his famous designs, not a lot is known about the designer. His designs ranged from coffee tables to seating, such as his famous Bodö Series from 1957. Many of Skogh’s designs have survived and are highly sought after on the vintage market today. ~H.
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Price category: 9,000 - 12,500 usd / eur
This lovely “Duetto” loveseat was designed back in the 1950s to bring the sitters closer together. This intention is clearly traceable in Ottelin’s drawings, where the back was drawn as hands embracing the users.
A loveseat derives its name from holding two people close to one another. First invented in the 17th century, this two-person chair was originally intended for women wearing large dresses with hoops to sit comfortably. In the Nordic countries, loveseats, such as this model, were typically made of quality woods with fully upholstered bodies to enhance the cosiness. This rare “Duetto” is unquestionably Ottelin’s most distinctive sofa model. This is primarily due to the peculiar back that has a heart shape and envelopes towards the front to form the arms as well. At the top, the edge curves outward creating a welcoming and open look. The homely curviness and precision clearly show the influence of Werner West, Ottelin’s teacher. The body, upholstered in honey-coloured sheepskin, is paired with tapered, lacquered wood legs. This combination is a true Nordic characteristic, keeping the tradition of using organic materials at its core.
As this “Duetto” sofa shows, the shapes and forms of Nordic minimalism of the mid-century are infinitely interesting. Additionally, the stylish look is always paired with the highest quality craftsmanship, here provided by the Finnish furniture company, Kervo Snickerifabrik, Oy Stockmann. The Kerava cabinetmaking company was founded on February 1, 1862 and Ottelin served as director of the company's furniture department from 1953 to 1954 and as artistic director of interior design from 1955 until his death in 1971.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. This sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin.
Dimensions:
60.23 in W x 29.52 in D x 34.25 in H; Seat height 17.32 in
153 cm W x 75 cm D x 87 cm H; Seat height 44 cm
About the designer:
Karl Olof Ottelin (Helsinki, 3 May 1917 - Helsinki, 9 February 1971) was a Finnish interior designer and furniture designer who, in the 1950s, was the director and chief designer of Stockmann's furniture department.
Ottelin began his studies at the Central School of Art and Design in 1939, but had to suspend his studies for 1941–1944 due to conscription. He graduated as an interior designer in 1946 and started at Stockmann's drawing office in 1948. He served as director of the company's furniture department from 1953 to 1954 and as artistic director of interior design from 1955 until his death in 1971.
Ottelin's best-known products are modern wooden chairs, but he also designed cabinet and shelving systems and extensive interior design for a variety of properties. In 1952, Olof Ottelin designed the furniture for the Swedish School of Economics in Helsinki together with Lisa Johansson-Pape (lamps), Yki Nummi (coloring) and Dora Jung (textiles). Ottelin also did design work for the wallpaper factory Pihlgren & Ritola and the television manufacturer Helvar.
The versatile designer was also known as a cartoonist, whose drawings were published in the interior magazine Kaunis Koti, in live TV programs on YLE, and in the Swedish-language publications' Nya Pressen, Lucifer, Astra and Nordisk Medicin. He also wrote articles for the journal Architect, among others. In January-February 1989, the Amos Anderson Art Museum organized an exhibition of Olof Ottel's furniture and drawings.
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Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur
By the middle of the 20th century, design and handicrafts from Sweden had caught the eye of the outside world. Since the 1910s, the modern movement had worked for a modern and functional form. Functionalism had a major public breakthrough during the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, however, as this peculiar sofa shows, the objective, square and stripped-down functionalist style was short-lived.
The term ‘Swedish Modern’ was quickly established as a reinterpretation of modernity during the 1940s, and the early and square functionalism was replaced by the new Swedish Modern style’s freer and more artistic ideal. These qualities perfectly describe this amazing sofa, standing on four club-shaped legs. This two-seater sofa has a lot of character with a welcoming presence that exudes high quality craftsmanship and design. The rounded edges and curves create flowing lines, which is further enhanced by the upholstery’s rich texture and softness. The many tufted buttons on the backrest are arranged symmetrically and adds even more character to the body. The splayed legs’ shape is in accordance with the rounded edges of the body, and together with the armrests -where the wood is exposed - showcases the wood’s beauty. With a careful combination of organic shapes, master craftsmanship, and luxurious materials, both Swedish modernity, crafts history and tradition were combined in this sofa.
Swedish Modern made the Swedish form widely known. This second generation of 'functionalists' affirmed craftsmanship, tradition and history. The new style thus signalled both status, unassuming and sensitive awareness right up to the 1960s. The country had a second international breakthrough at the end of the 1930s - under the term Swedish Modern, and a third one that is happening right now, and looking at this sofa, is unlikely to end anytime soon.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin.
Dimensions:
86.6 in W x 34.3 in D x 33.5 in H; Seat height 21.7 in
124 cm W x 83 cm D x 87 cm H; Seat height 40 cm
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Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur
Mid-Century Modernism is a recognized term around the world, standing for the characteristic style of the furniture designs created during the mid-20th century. As this sofa shows, furniture created in this period is characterized by functionality, clarity in design, and extremely high-quality craftsmanship and choice of materials.
Thanks to its crescent shape, this sofa style is referred to as the “banana” sofa. It is designed to bring people closer together to create a cosy atmosphere, which is a core concept of the era’s design. The visual appearance of this sofa however, is not the only thing that echoes the era’s design, but also the exquisite craftsmanship under the upholstered body. Many of the well-known European architects of the era felt the urge to try their hand at three-seater sofas, adhering to the period’s streamlined modernism. In combination with the unadorned styles of mid-century design, this sofa brings together the best attributes of the era. The slim wood legs add a modern, organic feel, balancing out the voluptuous profile of the body. The tapered legs’ angle is adjusted to provide perfect stability, while the masterful sense of proportions and the soft upholstery guarantee functionality and comfort. The tufting on the backseat is a stylish addition that highlights the sofa’s beautiful curvature and the rich texture of the sheepskin.
This three-seater sofa has been reupholstered in dark-coloured sheepskin, accentuating the wooden legs and the luxurious feel and look and pairs incredibly with curvilinear shapes, as evidenced by this sofa. Sheepskin is the ultimate material for comfort, warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The artisanal production quality is evident throughout this pair and takes the mid-century idea of “furniture that last for generations” seriously.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin.
Dimensions:
59.06 in H x 35.43 in D x 30.71 in H; Seat height 17.72 in
150 cm W x 90 cm D x 78 cm H; Seat height 45 cm
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Price category: 12,500 - 15,000 usd / eur
As new materials like plastic, foam, and fibreglass revolutionised the production process in the postwar period, Scandinavian designers still valued craft over industrialisation. This sculptural sofa is a beautiful evidence of this heritage and the mastery of Danish cabinetmakers.
Many of the most renowned Danish designers were trained architects as well. This knowledge and training can be clearly traced in the structure of this stunning sofa. Many elements emblematic of mid-century design are also apparent: sleek lines, simple geometries, an open layout, and the impeccable quality of the materials and craftsmanship. The design is defined by its angles, starting with the tilted back and the raised seat towards the front. The sculptural wooden arms and legs follow these lines, creating visual balance. The mostly rounded edges are broken by the pair of straight stretchers set between the front and the back legs. The button tufting on the backrest rhymes greatly with the long horizontal lines, and is a stylish feature in itself as well. Though mid-century Danish manufacturers may not have the name recognition as designers do in the mass market, they were evidently just as integral in developing a modern aesthetic in Europe. The sleek and stylish look of this sofa, from the unique wooden frame to the upholstered body and the visible joinery, embodies this aesthetic.
The designer of this model clearly prized the marriage of form and function. To this day, young Scandinavian designers still look to the mid-century masters for inspiration, which should come as no surprise looking at this sofa.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Due to the nature and age of the materials, the item may have some marks, scratches, and discolouration. The sofa has been reupholstered recently in premium sheepskin. Each of our items can be reupholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
Dimensions:
72.44 in W x 33.85 in D x 29.92 in H; Seat height 13,77 in
184 cm W x 86 cm D x 76 cm H; Seat height 35 cm