Golden Age Design Blog
Designers of History - Illum Wikkelsø
In 1919 in Denmark, Kristian Illum Wikkelsø was born. He, like many other well known designers started his design career by studying cabinet making, graduating in 1940. He went on to study at the Copenhagen School of Arts & Crafts, graduating in 1943. After graduating he went on to work alongside Jacob Kjær, an architect and cabinet designer, winning many awards. He then started working with Mølgaard-Nielsen at his architectural firm Hvidt & Mølgaard. In 1954 Wikkelsø moved to Aarhus, Denmark to start his own design firm. His furniture is deeply inspired by nature, ergonomics, and comfort. Many of his lounge pieces feature low-slung seating, clean lines, and waves from the landscape of Denmark. Illum Wikkelsø is one of the designers who truly marks the Golden Age of mid-century Scandinavian furniture design - with his most famous designs being from the 50's and 60's. We are truly honored to have seen a few pieces make their way to our shop and into new homes.
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Designers of History: Kaare Klint
The Father of Danish furniture design, Kaare Klint was born in 1888 in Copenhagen. He took technical furniture classes under Jens Møller-Jensen and at the Artist's Studio School under Johan Rohde. He continued to learn architecture under Carl Peterson and his father Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint. His furniture is marked by its functionality, clean lines, craftsmanship, high-quality materials and its emphasis on accommodating the human body. His designs went on to inspire other well known designers such as Børge Mogensen and Poul Kjærholm. In addition to masterpieces of furniture, Kaare Klint also completed his fathers designs for Grundtvig's Church and Bethlehem Church, both in Copenhagen. A true master of his trade, Kaare Klint is noted for his designs the Faaborg Chair (1914) and the Safari Chair (1933) which clearly showed his passion to study the function of furniture being equally yolked with its design. Golden Age Design is proud to currently have a set of Kaare Klint's Church Chair in shop. The Church Chair (1936) was the first chair used in place of traditional benches in Denmark and furnished Bethlehem Church in Copenhagen.
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Designers of History - Johannes Andersen
There are few names in Scandinavian furniture that have received the same recognition as Johannes Andersen. If you've been following our shop for a while now you know that we have been honored to restore a few of his designs. Born in 1903, Johannes Andersen like many big names in the game, underwent a formal cabinet making apprenticeship. In the mid 30's, he started his own architectural workshop where he created the designs we love today. Johannes was inspired by creating functional pieces that are also extremely pleasing to any onlooker. He took special attention to how a piece of furniture may be used, making sure it was comfortable and accessible. Additionally, his designs are iconic for their unique rounded or softer edges and shapes - creating something new for the eye. We love his designs. We hope you do too.
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