Ib Madsen

Ib Madsen was a Danish furniture designer associated with the mid-century furniture workshop Madsen & Schubell. He is mainly documented through the later history of the company, which originated with Arnold Madsen and Henry Hans Schubell, also known as Acton Schubell. Furniture connected to Madsen & Schubell is particularly known for elegant lounge chairs and easy chairs from the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, often characterized by organic silhouettes, curved wooden frames, and carefully upholstered seats.

Biography

Relatively little biographical information has been widely published about Ib Madsen, and attribution within the Madsen & Schubell history can be complex. The workshop’s early history is most closely associated with Arnold Madsen and Henry Hans Schubell, while Ib Madsen is described in some sources as Arnold Madsen’s son and later successor within the company.

Madsen & Schubell became known for high-quality Danish lounge seating during the mid-20th century. Their furniture often featured sculpted wooden frames, generous upholstered seats, and expressive, organic profiles. The pieces reflect the more sculptural side of Danish modern design, where comfort, craftsmanship, and strong visual form were closely connected.

The company’s production included lounge chairs, easy chairs, stools, and reclining chairs, often made in materials such as beech, teak, oak, rosewood, leather, wool, or sheepskin. Many of these designs are now sought after on the vintage market for their distinctive silhouettes and careful construction.

Because many works are variously attributed across different market sources to Arnold Madsen, Henry Schubell, Acton Schubell, Ib Madsen, or Madsen & Schubell, specific authorship should be treated with caution unless supported by stronger documentation. It is safest to describe Ib Madsen in relation to the later Madsen & Schubell workshop history rather than assigning uncertain individual authorship.