Danish Modern Armchairs in Teakwood & Leather attributed to Larsen & Bender Madsen, 1950s, Set of 2

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Large armchairs in solid teak and black leather made by cabinetmaker Willy Beck, Copenhagen in the 1950s. The chairs was designed by Danish architects Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen in 1949 and shown at the cabinetmakers guild exhibition in Copenhagen the same year. The designers characteristically clad the upper half of the chair in black leather while the exposed wood of the lower half is in natural teak. A gentle curve under the seat’s side rails compliments the curve found at the bottom of the seat back while the downward slope of the inner arms provides uncommon comfort by eliminating the edge where one’s arms usually rest. Danish design duo Ejner Larsen (1917—1987) and Aksel Bender Madsen (1916—2000) designed some of the most refined examples of 20th century Danish cabinetmakers’ furniture. Their work is characterized by a rational and functionalistic approach combined with a very elegant and visually light idiom. Both were trained cabinetmakers and met during their subsequent studies at the Furniture Department of the Danish School of Arts and Crafts. After graduating in 1940 they gained experience by working for some of the most influential Danish architects at the time; Bender Madsen in the offices of Kaare Klint and Arne Jacobsen while Larsen worked for Mogens Koch and Palle Suenson. In 1947 they established their own office and began a longstanding collaboration. Larsen and Madsen’s work is defined by high quality materials and refined craftsmanship. All of their carefully designed details are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, highlighting the character of the materials and the handicraft tradition. NOTICE: The chairs are listed as a set, but they can be bought separately. Let us know in advance and we will assist you in this.

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Creator	Aksel Bender Madsen
Manufacturer	Willy Beck (Cabinetmaker) , Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen (Designer)
Design Period	1920 to 1949
Production Period	1950 to 1959
Country of Manufacture	Denmark
Identifying Marks	This piece is attributed to the above-mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark
Style	Scandinavian Modern
Detailed Condition	Very Good — This vintage/antique item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use.
SKU	WRF-1733733
Restoration and Damage Details	Reupholstered, Wear consistent with age and use, Minor fading, Both seats have been reupholstered in aniline leather by a Danish cabinetmaker
Materials	Teak
Color	Black
Width	70 cm 70 cm
Depth	56 cm 56 cm
Height	80 cm 80 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Denmark
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Aksel Bender Madsen

Danish designer-cabinetmaker Aksel Bender Madsen (1916-2000) created a number of classic midcentury designs in the late 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, often working jointly with his business partner and friend Ejner Larsen (1917-1987).

Bender Madsen (as he is usually referred) trained as a cabinetmaker before spending four years studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1940. It was there that he met his lifelong friend Larsen, with whom he would work throughout his career. The pair designed over 300 pieces of furniture together until Larsen’s death in 1987, often working with cabinetmaker Willy Beck, who produced their designs over a 25-year period. Larsen and Bender Madsen participated annually in the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild competitions from 1947, and their work was exhibited at the Triennale di Milano and in the Design in Scandinavia exhibition, which traveled across the US. from 1954 to 1957.

Larsen and Bender Madsen's most famous design, namely the Metropolitan Chair, was developed in 1949 and produced from 1950; its name came from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was shown and acquired for the Arts of Denmark exhibition in 1960-61. Upholstered in saddle leather, the Metropolitan Chair is an elegant example of organic Danish modern design.

Before he began working with Larsen, Bender Madsen worked for Danish icons Kaare Klint and Arne Jacobsenfrom 1940 to 1943. While designing furniture, he also worked simultaneously as an architect for the Danish Consumers Cooperative Society (1943-1950) and as a teacher and principal at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1950-54).

Bender Madsen was committed to building the Danish design identity and exporting Scandinavian style. He introduced a clear Danish aesthetic to the Dutch brand Bovenkamp in the 1950s and 1960s, who also worked with fellow Arne Vodder. Bender Madsen designs for Bovenkamp feature many models of easy chairs and armchairs, including the low-backed Edith and the high-backed Karen (circa 1950).

Together Bender Madsen and Larsen received many awards, including winning the prestigious Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild Annual Prize in 1956 and 1961. Their furniture is housed in museums around world, including the aforementioned Met Museum and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark.