Danish Furniture Provide the Traditional Look

The danish furniture style known as Danish Modern saw its greatest popularity from the 1930s until the 1970s. In the United States, Danish Modern quickly was accepted by the public following the New York World's Fair of 1939-1940. Particularly after the end of World War II, this style of furniture represented the progressive designs that originated from Scandinavia.  

What exactly is Danish Modern? Here are some key components of it:

Influences

Ironically, the "Modern"  Danish style of furniture actually originates from various traditional techniques that were used in different crafts. Such crafts included pottery, glassblowing, cabinetry, and so on. What made the Danish Modern style so fascinating is that it used old-world craftsmanship, to reveal hope for the country's future.  

Materials

Several materials were common in the creation of Danish Modern furniture. Plywood was the raw material that was often used. That's because it was easier to mold into various shapes, and adjusted well to the form of a human body. As the demand for Danish Modern danish furniture increased in the United States, Danes began using particular types of wood, for furniture that would be exported to the United States. That included wood types such as teak wood, wenge, and rosewood.

Style

This type of furniture features a focus on natural materials and "organic shapes." Organic shapes are those that look natural and have an appearance that's smooth and curvy.    

It's important to note that when American companies began creating Danish Modern furniture, the American version had made drastic deviations from the furniture styles' roots. For example, American companies would use varnishes and stains as finishes on the wood---rather than wax and oil. Unfortunately, the departure from the furniture style's roots ultimately resulted in its decrease in popularity during the 1970s.   

If you're interested in shopping for the Danish Modern variety of danish furniture, here are some helpful tips for identifying it: 

1. Look for original styles of Danish Modern furniture

The original pieces featured plywood and light-colored woods; and clean lines. Later, the Danes used dark woods in order to meet their customers' preferences. 

2. Look for wax and oil finishes

American companies typically chose varnishes and stains as finishes, which deviated from the original finishes. 

3. Look for furniture created by designers of the mid-1900s.

Some of the most popular designers during that era include Alvar Aalto, Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Kaare Klint, Verner Panton, and Hans J. Wegner. 

4. Look for clear areas under the furniture

For instance, the chairs and sofas sat on lengthy legs. 

5. Look for a natural, ergonomic design

Danish Modern typically doesn't include furniture pieces with rigid geometric lines.

Though Danish Modern danish furniture has decreased in popularity, you can still find originals and reproductions today. The style and elegance of Danish Modern will likely remain timeless!