BM0057 sideboard – Carl Hansen

Børge Mogensen, 1957

The creative process of Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) produced enduring works that put people at the center. He was a highly influential post-war designer and a leading exponent of Danish modernism.

Mogensen's democratic convictions led him to favor simple, functional wooden furniture for both private and public spaces, with a calm aesthetic and solid construction using quality materials. He believed in visual clarity and visual simplicity, as demonstrated by his classic works such as the Hunting Table.

As a student at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Mogensen was inspired by Kaare Klint's use of human proportions to combine calm and functionalism. Mogensen, however, also emphasized informal interior decoration and the use of modern production techniques.

Mogensen completed his training as a cabinetmaker in 1934, then went on to study furniture design. During this period, he worked in the studios of Klint and Mogens Koch until he was hired as chief designer for the Danish furniture cooperative FDB in 1942, where he was one of the pioneers of democratic design.

Børge Mogensen opened his own design studio in 1950, making modern, useful furniture from local Nordic materials. However, his inspiration came from many styles and cultures, including international modernism, ethnic arts, Japanese sculpture and historical works.

Mogensen also taught furniture design and took part in exhibitions and competitions, such as the Museum of Modern Art's 1948 international competition for low-cost furniture, in which he participated with his friend Hans J. Wegner.

He was awarded the Eckersberg Medal in 1950 and the Danish Furniture Prize in 1971. In 1972, he was awarded the C.F. Hansen Medal and named Honorary Royal Designer for Industry at the Royal Society of Arts in London.