Aksel Bender Madsen created a number of classic mid century designs in the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, often working jointly with his business partner and friend Ejner Larsen (1917–87). Bender Madsen trained as a cabinetmaker before spending four years studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1940. It was there that he met his lifelong friend Larsen, with whom he would work throughout his career. They designed over 300 pieces of furniture together until Larsen’s death in 1987, often working with cabinetmaker Willy Beck, who produced their designs over a 25-year period. Larsen and Bender Madsen participated annually in the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild competitions from 1947, and their work was exhibited at the Triennale di Milano and in the Design in Scandinavia exhibition, which traveled across the US. from 1954 to 1957. Larsen and Bender Madsen’s most famous design, namely the Metropolitan Chair, was developed in 1949 and produced from 1950; its name came from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was shown and acquired for the Arts of Denmark exhibition in 1960–61. Before he began working with Larsen, Bender Madsen worked for Danish icons Kaare Klint and Arne Jacobsen from 1940 to 1943. While designing furniture, he also worked simultaneously as an architect for the Danish Consumers Cooperative Society (1943–50) and as a teacher and principal at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1950–54). Bender Madsen was committed to building the Danish design identity and exporting Scandinavian style. He introduced a clear Danish aesthetic to the Dutch brand Bovenkamp in the 1950s and 1960s, who also worked with Arne Vodder. Bender Madsen designs for Bovenkamp feature many models of easy chairs and armchairs, including the low-backed Edith and the high-backed Karen (circa 1950). Together Bender Madsen and Larsen received many awards, including winning the prestigious Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Annual Prize in 1956 and 1961. Their furniture is housed in museums around the world, including the aforementioned Met Museum and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark.
Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen Armchair
By Willy Beck, Ejner Larsen, Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant armchair designed by Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen around 1951 and manufactured by Willy Beck, Copenhagen (metal label mounted underneath). The chair is crafted from s...
Leather, Teak
$7,894Sale Price / set|20% Off
Lounge Chairs and Sofa by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, 1952
By Bovenkamp, Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Early rare midcentury livingroom set composed of one lady-chair, one highback reading chair, attached neck pillow, and one sofa. Beautifully sculpted teak frame and original amber-or...
Upholstery, Oak
$4,950Sale Price / set|23% Off
Ejner Larsen and A. Bender Madsen Danish Teak Lounge Chair and Ottoman Set
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Ludvig Pontoppidan, Ejner Larsen
Located in Peabody, MA
Danish teak lounge armchair and footstool/ottoman, circa mid-1950s. Designed by Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen and made by Ludvig P...
Upholstery, Teak
$6,385
H 19.69 in W 22.05 in D 15.75 in
Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen Stool for Willy Beck, Rosewood & Leather
By Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen, Willy Beck
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stool designed by Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen for Willy Beck, Denmark, 1950s. Brazilian rosewood and leather. Marked. Dimensions: H: 50 cm / 19 3/4'' W: 56 cm / 22'' D: 4...
Leather, Rosewood
$4,690 / set
H 31.89 in W 19.69 in D 20.08 in
Danish Hardwood Dining Chair by Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender-Madsen
By Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen, Willy Beck
Located in Vienna, AT
Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender-Madsen a set of six dining chairs with hardwood frame and with round tapered legs. Seat and back upholstered in wool fabric. Designed in 1955, made by ...
Hardwood
Aksel Bender Madsen & Ejner Larsen, Armchair, Teak, Denmark, 1950s
By Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in High Point, NC
A teak "Metropolitan" armchair designed by Aksel Bender Madsen & Ejner Larsen and produced by Fritz Hansen, Denmark, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 31.0"H x 28.5"W x 19.5"D ...
Teak
Aksel Bender Madsen Sofa in Checkered Fabric, Oak and Teak
By Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Aksel Bender Madsen, sofa, fabric, oak, teak, Denmark, 1960s The designer of this sofa is Aksel bender Madsen (1916-2000) who is known for his classic Mid-Century designs and worked with prominent Danish designers such as Kaare Klint (1888-1954), Ejner Larsen (1917-1987), and Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971), to name a few. This sofa is pure and clean in its appearance due to its lack of unnecessary decoration. In the meantime, the slightly long shaped backrest and the sleek legs create a very calming and weightless appearance. The slightly bent armrests are made out of teak while the rest of the frame is oak. The checkered fabric...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
$15,093 / set
H 26.38 in W 35.44 in D 39.38 in
Afra and Tobia Scarpa Brown Soriana Lounge Chair and Ottoman for Cassina, 1969
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Soriana lounge chair and ottoman, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina in 1969. Re-upholstered with brown velvet. Winner of the “Compas...
Chrome
$6,966 / set
H 39.38 in W 25.6 in D 27.56 in
Aksel Bender Madsen Karen pair wingback chairs Bovenkamp Holland 1960
By Bovenkamp, Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful pair of lounge chairs model Karen designed by Aksel Bender Madsen & Schubell and manufactured by Bovenkamp, The Netherlands 1960. Aksel Bender Madsen was contracted by ...
Teak
Danish Lounge Chairs deigned by Hans Olsen
By Hans Olsen, Viskadalens Möbelindustri
Located in Oakland, CA
Mid-century lounge chair designed by Hans Olsen, circa 1959. Chair crafted of a solid teak frame, sculpted armrests, and blue green wool upholstery over natural latex foam and raised...
Wool, Teak
Simple Stool by Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen for Willy Beck
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Ejner Larsen, Willy Beck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A spare and well crafted stool having a shapely black leather seat floating on tapered teak dowel legs.
Leather, Teak
Ejnar Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen
By Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in London, GB
A rare teak armchair designed by Ejnar Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen. Seat and back with woven cane. Designed 1955. This example made 1950–1960s by cabin...
Cane
$9,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29.5 in W 33.25 in D 42.5 in
'Marsala' Lounge Chairs by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, France c 1971, Signed
By Ligne Roset, Michel Ducaroy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional pair of ‘Marsala’ lounge chairs by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, circa 1971, showcasing one of the designer’s most sculptural and innovative seating concepts of the ...
Leather, Acrylic
Albert Jacob Lounge Chairs for Grosfillex, 1970
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful and rare pair of lounge chairs edited by Grosfillex Designer Albert Jacob: Lounge chair (Seat height 38 cm) in ABS with cushions in brown woven ...
Fabric, Plastic
$7,800Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 33 in W 28 in D 30 in
Pair of Streamline Lounge Chairs and Sofa by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Pair of streamline lounge chairs and streamline sofa by Thonet in sage cotton velvet and maple stained legs. Dimensions for chairs: 33 H x...
Cotton, Velvet
Sold
H 33.86 in W 25.79 in D 28.15 in
Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp Lounge Chair in Oak and Yellow Upholstery
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, easy chair, oak, teak, fabric, The Netherlands, 1965 A true mid-century icon, this lounge chair is designed by the Danish master Aksel Bender Mads...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp Lounge Chair in Oak and Teak
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, lounge chair, teak and oak, fabric, Denmark, 1950s. Madsen is known for his modest, minimalist designs. This lounge chair has armrests made out of...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Sold
H 39.77 in W 25.99 in D 27.56 in
Wingback lounge chair by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp 1950 oak teak Dutch
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Discover timeless elegance with this Aksel Bender Madsen Wingback Lounge Chair for Bovenkamp, a 1950s masterpiece that epitomizes Dutch mid-century modern design. Crafted with meticu...
Oak, Teak
Sold
H 38.98 in W 25.6 in D 29.53 in
Set of 2 lounge chairs by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, Netherlands 1960s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in ECHT, NL
"Bovenkamp" lounge chairs by Aksel Bender Madsen, "Karen and Edith", 1960s The Karen and the Edith chair, designed by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp. Made of oak and the armrest ...
Fabric, Oak
Wingback Chair by Madsen for Bovenkamp, 1950s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful design classic fauteuil by Danish designer Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp Holland, manufactured in the 1950s. This 'wingback chair' is inspired by Scandinavian organic ...
Fabric, Teak
The "Karen" Lounge Chair by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, 1950s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic mid-century lounge chair designed by Aksel Bender Madsen and manufactured by Bovenkamp in the Netherlands in the 1950s. High back cushioned seat with neck pillow and original ...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Sold
H 32.68 in W 26.78 in D 28.75 in
Aksel Bender Madsen Wingback Set of 2 Lounge Chairs for Bovenkamp, 1950s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in The Hague, NL
Set of 2 lounge chairs called wingback, designed by Aksel Bender Madsen. Aksel Bender Madsen worked for Bovenkamp in the 1950s and 1960s, this chair was produced in 1958. Madse...
Wool, Oak, Teak
Sold
H 39.18 in W 25.6 in D 25.6 in
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, 1960s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning Mid-Century Modern lounge chair. Design by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp. Striking Danish design from the 1960s. Solid oak frame with solid teak curved armrests which...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Aksel Bender Madsen Solid Teak Lounge Chairs
By Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Aksel Bender Madsen pair of solid teak lounge chairs. Beautiful Original Condition. Chairs are a great size and scale. Sculptural Arms continue aroun...
Upholstery, Teak
Rare Bovenkamp Lounge Chair 50s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Rare Bovenkamp lounge chair. Most likely designed by Aksel Bender Madsen. Solid oak frame with solid teak arm rests. Reupholstered in fine bouclé white fabric. In very good vintage c...
Fabric, Oak, Teak
Sold
H 41.34 in W 25.2 in D 32.29 in
Aksel Bender Madsen Karen Wingback Chair Bovenkamp, The Netherlands, 1960
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Ib Madsen and Acton Schubell, Bovenkamp
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Beautiful shaped lounge chair model Karen designed by Aksel Bender Madsen & Schubell and manufactured by Bovenkamp, The Netherlands 1960. Aksel Bender Madsen was contracted by Bovenk...
Upholstery, Oak, Teak
Sold
H 39.38 in W 25.99 in D 23.63 in
Oak and Teak Lounge Chairs by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp, 1960s
By Aksel Bender Madsen, Bovenkamp
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning pair of Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs. Design by Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp. Striking Danish design from the 1960s. Solid oak frames with solid teak armrests. ...
Fabric, Oak, Teak