Arne Vodder sideboard

This sideboard, model 29A, was designed in the 1950s by Danish architect and designer Arne Vodder and manufactured by Sibast Møbelfabrik in Denmark. Its elongated case spans 250 cm in width, stands 80.5 cm tall, and reaches 47 cm in depth, presenting a low, horizontal profile characteristic of Scandinavian mid-century furniture. The primary material is Brazilian rosewood, whose richly figured grain displays deep brown and reddish hues with strong vertical patterns flowing uninterrupted across the case and drawer fronts.

The sideboard is organized into a functionally zoned asymmetry. On the left, two sliding doors clad in white and sunny yellow Formica glide on concealed tracks; their circular cut-out handles are recessed directly into the material, maintaining a seamless surface. Behind these doors lie adjustable shelving that can accommodate servingware or audio equipment. At the center, a column of seven drawers steps down in height, each drawer front sculpted with a gentle concave curve, emphasizing the depth of the rosewood grain and offering tactile ease of use. To the far right, a hinged cabinet door opens to reveal further storage, its interior shelving finished in the same dark veneer as the case’s core.

Structurally, the sideboard is supported by four gently tapering round legs in solid rosewood, joined by a low stretcher that ensures stability while preserving visual lightness. The joinery is executed with precision, and the sliding mechanisms operate smoothly thanks to Sibast’s meticulous craftsmanship. A discreet label inside one of the drawers bears the Danish Furnituremakers’ Control stamp, attesting to the piece’s adherence to rigorous quality standards of the period.

Arne Vodder (1926–2009), a protégé of Finn Juhl, was renowned for his subtle fusion of organic forms and functional detailing. In this sideboard he balances the warmth and complexity of exotic wood with the sleek simplicity of laminate panels, embodying the era’s pursuit of utility without ornamentation. Sibast Møbelfabrik, active in Aarhus and a member of the Danish Furnituremakers’ Control, was one of the few workshops capable of translating Vodder’s precise drawings into finely finished production pieces.

This example remains in very good original condition, with only minor surface wear—small scuffs at the leg tips and faint hairline scratches on the Formica panels—that are consistent with careful use over six decades. Its harmonious marriage of asymmetric planning, honest materials, and refined detailing makes it a distinguished representation of 1950s Scandinavian modernism.