Anne-Mette Jensen & Morten Ernst daybed

The rare “Waves” daybed, model EJ 142, was designed by Anne-Mette Jensen and Morten Ernst for Erik Jørgensen in Denmark in 1994. Conceived as a two-person chaise longue or daybed, the design consists of two parallel, individually contoured reclining surfaces that together form a broad sculptural composition.

The form is organized almost entirely around continuous curves. Each side rises and falls independently in a pronounced wave profile, creating elevated sections for the upper body and legs and a lower central area for the seated or reclining position. Viewed laterally, the silhouette alternates between concave and convex curves, while from the front the two adjacent profiles produce an asymmetrical, landscape-like surface. The upholstered edges are closely tailored to the fiberglass structure, with fine perimeter stitching emphasizing the outline. The monochromatic black treatment reduces the visual distinction between upholstery and structure, allowing the geometry of the piece to remain the principal element.

“Waves” originated in Erik Jørgensen’s first design competition in 1994, organized to commemorate the Danish manufacturer’s 40th anniversary. Jensen and Ernst were architecture students at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture when they entered and won the competition with this design. Their collaboration began with the project and subsequently developed into a professional design partnership that produced several further designs for Erik Jørgensen.

Anne-Mette Jensen and Morten Ernst became known for furniture combining organic forms with strongly graphic construction. Their work frequently investigates symmetry, opposing curves and the relationship between furniture and the surrounding architectural space. “Waves” is an early and particularly explicit expression of this approach: instead of constructing a conventional sofa from a horizontal seat, vertical back and separate supports, the designers treated the reclining surface as a continuous three-dimensional form. Fredericia, which represents later work by the designers, describes their practice in terms of a balance between organic and graphic shapes and unconventional furniture concepts.

Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik was established in Denmark in 1954. The company developed a particular reputation for upholstered furniture and for collaborations with Danish and international designers. The 1994 competition that produced “Waves” therefore marked both the company’s 40th anniversary and an attempt to introduce a new generation of designers into its production.

Stylistically, the daybed belongs to the more sculptural direction of Danish design during the 1990s rather than to the rectilinear functionalism commonly associated with mid-century Scandinavian furniture. Its low position, molded fiberglass construction and exaggerated ergonomic curves give it an almost topographical character. The design also reflects the increasing use of composite materials in late-20th-century furniture, with fiberglass permitting large structural curves that would have been considerably more difficult to achieve using conventional timber construction.

This example is executed entirely in black, with black leather upholstery and a black fiberglass base. It is in good vintage condition with signs of age and use. The leather displays natural creasing, light scratches, rubbing and variations in sheen, particularly across the principal contact areas and along the edges. Minor wear is also visible around the stitched perimeter and fiberglass structure. The leather retains its characteristic grain and the upholstery appears to follow the original sculptural contours well. These surface changes are consistent with use and have developed into a visible patina.

Dimensions: length 195 cm (76.77 in), width 145 cm (57.09 in), height 60 cm (23.62 in). Seat height 22 cm (8.66 in).