I put a halt on my kitchen update project, because my husband and I had been house hunting for last three months. I didn’t want to add a piece of furniture not knowing if it was going to fit in our new house. But I couldn’t get out of the habit of checking Craigslist and found a piece I had always dreamed of – a Danish modern teak dining table.

Danish Modern Teak Dining Table

The table was simply listed as “Teak Expandable Table $55.” I had seen the similar table for at least $300, so I thought it was a pretty good deal. The seller said the table belonged to his mother-in-law. She bought it when she got married in the 60’s. Too bad he didn’t have the matching chairs! The table has two hidden leaves underneath of the table top. It is a perfect size for a family of three. The leaves have some water stains, but overall it is in a great shape for its age. There is no marking to identify the manufacture. It is simply stamped “MADE IN DENMARK.”

Without Leaves

Now the chairs – turned out I wasn’t so lucky with finding chairs. After a month long search on Craigslist, eBay, thrift stores, used furniture stores, and antique malls, I gave up on a thought of finding a set of four matching Danish modern teak dining chairs at $150 budget. In a meanwhile, I did find three Bertoia side chairs for $100 (not the vintage ones).

Bertoia Side Chair

These chairs are not very comfortable without cushions. Knoll sells the cushion for $162 – no thank you. I picked the reddish orange vinyl to make my own and broke the sewing machine while stitching the second cushion. So the table and three Bertoia side chairs sat in my living room for another month. By the way, my cats love the table, too – it’s perfect height for them to sit and spy on the neighbors.

Much Worse Before

Two months later, I finally found the teak chairs I like on eBay. The seller stated the chairs were new old stock from a closed upscale import shop originally located in Minneapolis, MN and stored in the warehouse for over 30 years. They were manufactured by Sunwood Industries in Copenhagen. I scored them for $56 and paid $69 for shipping, a total of $125. Not too bad… except it is another set of “THREE” chairs

Unassembled Danish Modern Teak Chairs

The chairs were never assembled, so they came in a bunch of pieces. They have solid teak legs, back and woven natural cord/rope seat. I didn’t realize the colors were off from the listing pictures. So, here they are, my mismatching Danish modern dining table and three chairs. The fact I only have three chairs doesn’t bother me too much. It will be just two of us sooner or later anyways, but I am not 100% happy – so my search for a perfect Danish modern dining set continues…

A Little Better After

Ant Chair

Arne Jacobsen (1902 – 1974) was a multi-talented Danish modern designer mostly known for his architectural work and furniture design. In addition, Jacobsen showed his talent in designing consumer goods, lamps and textiles. Jacobsen was originally trained as a mason, but later pursued his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, graduating in 1928.

Arne Jacobsen opened his own architectural office in 1930. His first major architectural project was the Bellavista housing development in the early 1930’s. Jacobsen’s most known architectural projects include SAS (the airline company) building which contained an airport terminal as well as the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen and St. Catherine College in Oxford, England. For the Royal Hotel, Jacobsen designed every detail from furniture including his famous “Swan” and “Egg” chairs to textiles, lighting, wall panels, door hardware and tableware. For St. Catherine’s he designed every detail as well.

Models 3207, 3108 and 3107 Chairs

Other than the “Swan” and “Egg” chairs designed for the Royal Hotel, Arne Jacobsen’s notable furniture designs include the three legged (later a four legged version was also introduced) stackable chair called the “Ant” chair (1952) and the “3107” chair (1955), also known as the “Series 7” chair. The “Ant” and “Series 7” chairs were manufactured by Fritz Hansen in great numbers and the success of these chairs propelled both Jacobsen and Fritz Hansen’s names into furniture history.

Fritz Hansen has been manufacturing Jacobsen’s furniture since 1930’s and remains the same to this day. Just like many other mid century/Danish modern designers, Jacobsen created sleek, elegant, yet functional furniture pieces with timeless appeal that are cherished by many people today.

Panton Chair

Verner Panton (1926 – 1998) was one of the most influential Danish modern designers of the 20th century. Over the course of his career, Panton successfully introduced ground breaking interior designs, including furniture, lighting, floor covering, wall covering, and textiles using a variety of materials and vibrant colors.

Just like many others designers of the era, he was trained as an architect. Panton studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. After graduating the academy, he started his apprenticeship for Arne Jacobsen in early 1950’s, assisting Jacobsen’s various projects including the iconic “Ant” chair. In 1955, Panton opened his own practice in Copenhagen. In following years, he introduced innovative architectural ideas, such as the prefab collapsible house (1955), the “Cardboard House” (1957), and the “Plastic House” (1960).

Verner Panton Lamps

Panton’s innovative chair designs were probably his most significant contribution to mid century design. In 1958, Panton introduced “Cone” chair and later, “Heart” chair, on a slight variation. Both chairs were made of upholstered conical sheet metal, with a tip pointing down, placed on a cross shaped metal base. In 1960, the “Stacking” or “S” chair (or simply known as “Panton chair”) was introduced. The Panton chair was the first example of single-piece injection molded plastic, but its production was delayed because of the technological challenges. In 1967, the Panton chair was finally put into production by Vitra, the European licensee of Herman Miller, Inc. The success of the Panton chair brought him international recognition.

With his success in chair designs, Panton made his name as a visionary designer. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Panton began experimenting in designing entire living spaces by fusing different elements such as flooring, walls, lighting, furniture, and soft furnishings with vivid colors and geometric shapes. Panton’s unique designs are easily recognizable. Many of his designs are still in production today by the companies like Vitra and Fritz Hansen.

Photo: Verner Panton Lamps by Hollaender

1. Know What You Want - Before you head to a store or shop online, be sure to know exactly what you are looking for. Do you have a particular designer or style in your mind? Do you want the vintage originals or licensed reproduction? Have some ideas on colors and materials that match your style and needs to achieve some sort of cohesiveness. You may also take the size and shape of your space into consideration to avoid cluttering the space. Keep it minimum – that’s what mid century modern is all about.
2. Knowledge – Collect information on the pieces you are seeking. Invest on some books on mid century modern designs. You may also visit modern museums, galleries and shops.
3. Identification - You must be able to identify and recognize an authentic piece to avoid wasting your money on a knockoff. Look for any labels and markings to identify its authenticity.
4. Condition – Inspect the condition of the piece carefully. Expect normal wear and tear from the original pieces due to thier age and usage. If restoration is required, will you be able to restore without disturbing its integrity?
5. Affordability – Many pieces, especially the vintage original one by the well-known designers can be pricey. Set a limit on what you want to spend. Buying a licensed reproduction is another option if you cannot afford the vintage piece. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle when making a purchase.