In 1948, the year that designer Ib Kofod Larsen opened his practice, there were only 4 million people living in Denmark. The country was known for its work in design and furniture, having been founded in this tradition by Vikings and developed over hundreds of years. With this deep appreciation for form and function, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen had been responsible for training a staggering group of designers who contributed to the Danish Modern movement. Almost every Danish design icon you might know, in fact – designers like Kaare Klint, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Poul Kjaerholm, Grete Jalk and Nanna Ditzel.
Danish designer Ib Kofod Larsen (1921-2003) was 26 in 1948 when he set up his own studio, won a glass competition award from Holmegaard and the Danish Cabinetmakers Guild’s annual award. He was also hired by Danish maker Faarup. One of the high points of his story in furniture design with Faarup was the Model 66 Sideboard. It's a quintessential piece that exemplifies the elegance and functionality of Danish modern design with an emphasis on clean lines, high-quality materials, and practical storage solutions. We have noticed this piece is pictured in the home of Claudia Schiffer, which was recently photographed for Vogue Living.
Danish design was being noticed and coveted all over the world in this period – with this early success he started to find recognition from international makers and Ib Kofod Larsen was invited to collaborate with several leading furniture manufacturers including G-Plan, Christensen & Larsen, Petersens, Fredericia Furniture and France & Søn. His designs from this era, such as the iconic 'Elizabeth' chair and the 'Penguin' chair are now world famous. These exemplified his skill in creating furniture that is both functional and visually striking. The Elizabeth chair, with luxurious leather upholstery and sculptural wooden frame, is particularly renowned for its comfort and elegance.
Every post about Kofod-Larsen's history makes mention of his considered, light touch, utilising the qualities and beauty of materials to add depth to his designs. He preferred rich, warm timbers like teak and rosewood combined with sleek metal or leather, to create modern and timeless pieces. His designs are characterised by their attention to detail, quality craftsmanship and a strength in understanding the relationship between form and function.
It's worth mentioning that he hasn't received the same level of recognition from publishers or the press compared with other designers of his time – it seems that his quiet personality and works produced outside of Denmark have contributed to this. However his work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and remains highly sought after by collectors and followers of Danish modern design. The Model 66 Sideboard has remained one of our favourite sideboards since we first came across this piece, several years ago. It is always thrilling to have one of these for sale. We are also proud to represent several of his designs for G-Plan including a Medium Sideboard, Queen Headboard and Set of Four Dining Chairs. If you are keen to engage with the enduring work of this designer please contact us.