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It’s time for another instalment in my series exploring the stories and inspirations behind iconic pieces, and today I’ve teamed up with Fredericia to take a look at its famous Spanish Chair. First unveiled in 1958, it’s the work of renowned designer Børge Mogensen (1914-1972) and has just been released in a limited-edition red, available during 2020 only.
A leading figure in Danish Modernism, Mogensen trained as a cabinet maker and furniture designer at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts. He later enrolled at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Kaare Klint, whose focus on functionality, craftsmanship and adapting proportions to the shape of the human body had a lasting influence on Mogensen’s approach. After graduating in 1941 he was hired as chief designer for furniture cooperative FDB, where he pushed the concept of democratic design and began experimenting with modern production methods. His aim was to create durable, useful and unpretentious pieces that would enrich people’s everyday lives, and he quickly became known for his calm aesthetic and his emphasis on strong vertical and horizontal lines.
Mogensen opened his own studio in 1950 and soon began collaborating with interior architect and entrepreneur Andreas Graversen. In 1955 Graversen took ownership of Fredericia, which had been producing furniture in the Danish town of the same name since in 1911, and asked Mogensen to become its head of design – the start of a partnership that would last until Mogensen’s untimely death at the age of 58. During his years with the company he created a raft of mid-century classics, but the Spanish Chair is perhaps the most recognisable. It was inspired by traditional Spanish assembly techniques and features a leather seat buckled around a sturdy oak frame – a design that embodies Mogensen’s love of simple lines, natural materials and enduring, function-driven construction.
The chair has been in continuous production ever since its launch and there’s a lot of skill involved. The oak is quarter-sawn to give it strength and showcase the grain, and the vegetable-tanned saddle leather is hand-cut and trimmed – a process that I was lucky enough to see in person during a visit to Fredericia’s Copenhagen HQ a couple of years ago. There’s also a matching Spanish Dining Chair, which was introduced in 1964 and is available with or without armrests. Both are made to last for generations, and the leather develops a beautiful patina as it ages. What’s more, the buckles and straps mean the seat and back can be tightened as they expand through use.
The special-edition Spanish Chair comes in a deep, warm red with a hint of brown – a colour inspired by Fredericia’s own archives, and one that reflects Mogensen’s penchant for earthy tones. It’s eye-catching yet timeless, and also surprisingly versatile: I borrowed one to test out in my own home for a couple of weeks, and I was impressed with how seamlessly it fitted into the monochrome, minimalist decor. I used it to create a reading nook in our dining room, styling it first in front of the built-in shelving unit and picking out the tones of the oak and leather with a few accessories. I then tried it beneath a floor lamp in the opposite corner, and in both cases I loved the way it added a sophisticated splash of colour without overwhelming the scheme as a whole. What’s more, the supportive shape and soft leather meant it was a dream to sit in, and the wide armrests proved ideal for balancing drinks. I could have happily lounged there for hours with a good book and a cup of coffee!
Sadly my loan has now headed back to Denmark, but if you want to get hold of the special-edition colour for yourself it’s available on both the original Spanish Chair and the Spanish Dining Chair until 31st December 2020. There’s a full list of stockists on Fredericia’s website.
All photography by Abi Dare
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