Børge Mogensen's J39 Chair, consisting of a solid wood frame and a woven paper rope seat, has been dubbed "The People's Chair" because of its simplicity and versatility.
In 1939, the Danish consumer cooperative FDB hired the young (28 years old) architect Børge Mogensen as creative director of an ambitious furniture manufacturing programme. The ambition was to bring the innovative ideas of modernism within the reach of the middle classes by producing high quality, functional and well-designed furniture at affordable prices.
Mogensen decided to entrust production to existing cabinetmaking workshops and to call on the younger generation of Danish modernist designers, including Hans J. Wegner, thus helping to popularise what would become known as Danish Modernism in the 1950s.
Some of the pieces from the programme were so successful that they have remained in production since their launch in the 1940s. Børge Mogensen's particularly close relationship with Fredericia meant that these pieces later became part of the brand's 'People's Collection'.
The furniture designed by Mogensen and Wegner for 'The People's Collection' was based on a revolutionary approach to design that often drew inspiration from the past: Hans Wegner's rocking chair was inspired by traditional Windsor rocking chairs, Mogensen's J39 chair by traditional Mediterranean chairs, the C18 table by the American Shaker style.
Solid and functional, the pieces in "The People's Collection" can be used in both private and public spaces, and both new and vintage versions can be seen today in many places such as universities, cafés, restaurants and private homes, both in Denmark and abroad.
Dimensions W48 x D43 x H77 cm – Seat Height 46 cm
Frame solid beech, oak or walnut
Seat paper cord
Free samples (against deposit)
+ 4 felt or plastic glides
oak black lacquered + black paper cord
beech black lacquered + Natural paper cord
Soaped beech + Natural paper cord
Soaped oak + Natural paper cord
Oiled oak + Natural paper cord
Vintage lacquered beech + Natural paper cord
Light oiled oak + Natural paper cord
Oiled walnut + Natural paper cord
Pebble Grey beech + natural paper cord
Khaki Green beech + natural paper cord
Børge Mogensen
Børge Mogensen’s (1914-1972) creative process produced long-lasting pieces with humans at the center. He became a highly influential post-war designer and a leading representative of Danish Modern.
Mogensen’s democratic design included simple and functional wooden furniture for both private and public spaces, with calm aesthetics and strong construction from quality materials. He believed in visual clarity and minimal decoration or experimentation, as seen in his classic Hunting Table and Deck Chair Set.
As a student at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Mogensen was inspired by Kaare Klint’s use of human proportions with visual calm and functionalism. Mogensen, however, also placed emphasis on informal interior décor and the use of modern production facilities.
Mogensen completed his cabinetmaker training in 1934, followed by studies in 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 pioneered democratic design.
He began his own design studio in 1950, making modern, useful furniture produced from local, Nordic materials. His inspiration, however came from many cultures and styles, including international modernism, ethnic arts, Japanese carvings, and historic works.
Mogensen also taught furniture design and participated in exhibitions and competitions, such as the 1948, international competition for Low-Cost Furniture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which he entered together with his friend Hans J. Wegner.
He was awarded the Eckersberg Medal in 1950 and won the Danish Furniture Prize in 1971. In 1972 he was awarded the C.F. Hansen Medal and appointed Honorary Royal Designer for Industry at the Royal Society of Arts in London.
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