DESIGN DICTIONARY: Borge Mogensen

So who is Borge Mogensen?

Despite Borge Mogensen's playboy good looks, and his topnotch legacy as one of the foremost Danish designers from the middle of the last century, I had never heard of him before I started my new job at midcentury emporium, WYETH. Insert "horror" emoji.

Yup my learning curve there has sometimes been as steep as the Himalayas. At times I have been embarrassed by my lack of knowledge, but I am improving :-).

I now know that Borge Mogensen is one of the darlings of Scandinavian design. I find his pieces so warmly appealing that I want to share them with you.

Beautiful Rooms with Borge Mogensen's Furniture

Interior design by Robert Stilin. Chair by Borge Mogensen.

Interior design by Another Ballroom. Dining chair by Borge Mogensen.

Design Hallmarks

Borge Mogensen began with function. Whenever he approached a new project, he made a studied assessment of the needs to be met before he picked up his pencil. He eschewed fancy or trendy materials, typically preferring to work his magic with wood and leather. Mogensen's pieces are known for their strong, simple lines.

A selection of furniture designed by Borge Mogensen

I have experienced Mogensen's legendary durability and comfort first hand. As I comb through WYETH'S vintage design books for Instagram content, I typically perch on one of his daybeds! I now long for a one in the apartment. Perfect for small space living and way more stylish than your average pull-out couch.

Interior design by Robert Stilin. Borge Mogensen daybeds

Reinterpretation of Historic Forms

Borge Mogensen also is known for his canny ability to reinterpret traditional forms. His Spokeback Sofa has hinged sides that can be lowered to facilitate lounging, just like the venerable Knole settee .

Borge Mogensen's Spokeback Sofa is a derivative of the iconic Knole Settee

His Shell Chair with its oval back and water drop cutout sides evokes a 19th century Empire side chair.

Borge Mogensen's Shell Chair and an example of an Empire chair that inspired it.

Mogensen designed his iconic Spanish Chair after a trip to Spain in 1958. That chair is a derivative of chairs often found in areas influenced by ancient Islamic culture, from Andalusia to northern India. Mogensen modernized the form by abandoning the elaborate carvings seen in the traditional chair, while retaining the broad armrests and adding a leather seat.

Borge Mogensen's iconic Spanish Chair is a reinterpretation of a traditional carved Spanish Chair

Background and Home

Borge Mogensen was born in Denmark in 1914. He started as a cabinet maker in 1934 and went on to train as both as a furniture designer and as an architect. Mogensen's chief mentor was designer Kaare Klint (a future Designer Who's Who subject-have a look at Klint's famous Safari Chair), working in Klint's design studio. He also worked as Klint's teaching assistant at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture. It was from Klint that Mogensen gained his deep respect for classic lines, functionality and comfort.

Borge Mogensen's home clearly reveals his deep respect for simple lines, comfort and durability. He designed and built the home, filling it with furniture of his own designs. He shared the warm abode with his wife Alice for 14 years.

Borge Mogensen's dining room furnished with Shaker-inspired chairs and table. The chandelier is by fellow Danish designer Poul Henningsen.

Borge Mogensen's living room with his model 2213 sofa and Spanish chairs.

Borge Mogensen's designs received many awards including the prestigious C.F. Hansen medal in 1972. He died at age 58 in 1972.

Photo credits: Furniture collage, images from current and past inventory at WYETH.Spoke back sofa.Knole settee. Shell chair from Jacksons and Empire chair from 1st dibs. Spanish chair, Details and Traditional Spanish chair. Another Ballroom Robert Stilin shots from his portfolio.Spanish chair in a room. Pair of Shell chairs Sofa in a room. Blue Spokeback settee.First photo. Last three photos were taken by Andrew Wood for Magnus Englund’s (co-founder of Skandium) excellent book, Scandinavian Living.

Design DictionaryLynn ByrneOctober 24, 2016Borge Mogensen, Danish Design, Designer Who' Who, Kaare Klint, Knole Settee, midcentury modern, Scandinavian design, Shell Chair, Spanish Chair, Spokeback Sofa