This pair of beech “FD172” easy chairs was designed by the Danish designer duo, Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for the manufacturer France & Daverkosen in the 1950s.

This beautiful pair of slipper chairs feature a modest and elegant design. The slipper chair is a versatile and great accent for any space. Historically, the slipper chair first made its appearance in the early 18th century when it was used in bedrooms to help ladies get dressed, which explains the lack of arms. Consequently, the chairs are very open, which in the case of this pair is paired with a sharp and tailored look. The elegant lines of the beech base give the chair its characteristic and open character and contrast nicely with the grey linen cushions. The removable seat and back cushions are upholstered in a premium Belgian linen fabric to assure great sitting comfort. The geometric form of the legs and back is prominent, with serpentine lines on the backs and seats. As it can be expected from a Danish design and product, these chairs can be disassembled and easily relocated.

The execution of the structure France & Søn—and its predecessor, France & Daverkosen—are among the most sought-after names today. Numerous pieces retain their original identifying labels – including these chairs - and were designed by major mid-century Danish designers, like Hvidt & Mølgaard, Grete Jalk, Finn Juhl, Arne Vodder, and Ole Wanscher. One surviving story claims that France & Søn was the first to figure out how to work with teak at an industrial scale, an impressive feat in the modernist era. In the late 1950s to early 60s, the company supplied furniture to offices of the International Monetary Fund and created large export markets in Germany and the United States.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Recently reupholstered in a premium Belgian linen fabric.

Dimensions:

22.05 in. W x 33.11 in. D x 31.7 in. H; seat height 16.54 in.

56 cm W x 79 cm D x 80.5 cm H; seat height 42 cm

About the designer:

Hvidt & Mølgaard was a Copenhagen-based, Danish design and architectural firm which existed from 1944 until 2009. Founded by Peter Hvidt (1916-1986) and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen (1907-1993), the company was a pioneering force in Danish furniture design and industrialized production in the 1950s, creating furniture that was easy to mass-produce and economic to transport.

Danish architect-designer Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen was born in 1907. His formative years were spent in Copenhagen, studying at the Aalborg Technical School and at the Art and Crafts School of the Design Museum. From 1931 until 1934, he continued his studies in furniture design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts under the instruction of Kaare Klint. Peter Hvidt was born in Copenhagen in 1916. He studied architecture and cabinetry at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Subsequently, he worked at various design firms before establishing his own studio in 1942. In 1944, Hvidt designed the Portex Chair, which was one of Denmark’s first stacking chairs.

In 1944, the pair co-established Hvidt & Mølgaard Studio, which they ran together until 1975. During this time, the pair created designs for Fritz Hansen, France & Søn, and Søborg Møbelfabrik. In 1950, they designed the AX Chair, which solidified their careers as industrial designers and became an icon of Danish mid-century design. It was the first Danish chair that was crafted with both a seat and back made of curved laminated wood.

From 1970, Hvidt & Mølgaard focused on architectural projects, which spanned office buildings and factories, as well as collective housing projects. They were known for their light, simple, and clear designs, which were carried out with precision. Both Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen retired in 1975, designing over 256 pieces of furniture together over the course of their careers. Their work can be found at New York’s MoMA, the National Gallery in Melbourne, and the Danish Museum of Art & Design in Copenhagen. ~H.