Aksel Bender Madsen & Ejner Larsen desk

This rare mid-century desk was designed by Aksel Bender Madsen and Ejner Larsen and produced in 1962 by Næstved Møbelfabrik in Denmark. The design exemplifies a harmonious synthesis of industrial and Scandinavian modernist aesthetics, balancing rational construction with carefully selected materials.

The desk features a rectangular teak veneer top with clean, straight edges, supported by a frame of tubular steel legs finished to a polished sheen. The metal legs are capped with teak feet, a detail that softens the material transition and reflects the Danish design ethos of combining warmth with utility. Structural bracing in black-lacquered steel beneath the tabletop ensures rigidity and contributes to the modernist expression.

A compact storage module made from teak is suspended beneath the left side of the desk, containing two drawers with lacquered blue steel fronts. The upper drawer includes a lock mechanism, and both drawers retain their original chromed metal handles. The interplay of warm teak, cool blue lacquer, and polished metal highlights the balance between function and visual distinction, characteristic of Madsen and Larsen’s work.

Aksel Bender Madsen (1916–2000) and Ejner Larsen (1917–1987), graduates of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, collaborated closely over several decades. Their work was defined by clarity of form, ergonomic function, and the integration of traditional materials into modern contexts. While better known for their seating designs, this desk reflects their parallel interest in practical, refined furniture for contemporary workspaces.

Næstved Møbelfabrik was a prominent Danish manufacturer during the peak of the Danish modern movement, known for high production standards and collaborations with leading designers. This desk bears the NM logo and factory stamp.

The desk remains in good original condition, showing light surface wear and patina on the steel legs appropriate to its age. The drawers function smoothly, and the finishes on both wood and lacquered fronts are well preserved. The dimensions are 150 cm wide, 75 cm deep, and 73 cm high, approximately 59.1 inches wide, 29.5 inches deep, and 28.7 inches high.