Aksel Bender Madsen & Ejner Larsen armchair

This is a rare armchair designed by Aksel Bender Madsen and Ejner Larsen in 1952, produced by cabinetmaker Willy Beck in Copenhagen, Denmark. The chair represents a refined instance of mid-century Danish design, characterized by its balance of organic form, structural clarity, and artisanal craftsmanship.

The frame is constructed from solid teak, exhibiting a rich reddish-brown hue with a tight, straight grain. The arms are sculpted and gently curved, providing a natural resting position while enhancing the chair’s visual rhythm. The legs are round and tapered, contributing to a light visual footprint while maintaining robust structural stability. The transitions between the arms and the legs are smoothly integrated through masterful joinery, showcasing the hand-finished quality typical of Beck’s workshop.

The seat and backrest are woven in cane using different basketry techniques. The seat utilizes a consistent open weave, while the backrest combines vertical lacing with a central rectangular basket pattern, both contributing to a varied yet harmonious texture. The natural tone of the cane contrasts subtly with the darker tone of the teak, producing a warm, tactile palette.

Aksel Bender Madsen and Ejner Larsen were key figures in the Danish modern movement, best known for their collaborative work emphasizing functionality and material honesty. Their designs frequently combined slender wooden frames with natural cane, emphasizing human scale and comfort without ornamentation. Their long-standing relationship with master cabinetmaker Willy Beck ensured a high level of execution and precision, particularly in limited-production and exhibition-quality pieces.

This chair is in good vintage condition with minor signs of use and light surface patina on the wood and cane, consistent with its age. The cane remains intact and tightly woven, while the teak retains its original finish with a soft sheen.

The dimensions of the chair are 64 cm in width, 52 cm in depth, and 80.5 cm in height, with a seat height of 43 cm (25.2 x 20.5 x 31.7 inches, seat height 16.9 inches). This piece is an exemplary representation of 1950s Scandinavian cabinetmaking, combining traditional materials with a modern architectural sensibility.