The work of furniture designer Illum Wikkelsø wholly embodies the spirit of Scandinavian modernism. With their organic forms and wealth of angles inspired by the Danish countryside, his vintage lounge chairs, sofas and other seating pieces offer ergonomic comfort and lasting visual appeal.
Born Kristian Illum Wikkelsø and raised in a town near Faaborg, Denmark, the designer grew up around carpentry and cabinetmaking. He apprenticed with a cabinetmaker in his teens and enrolled in classes at the Technical Society School in Copenhagen as well as the Danish School of Arts & Crafts. At the latter, Wikkelsø studied under Kaare Klint, an architect and designer widely recognized as the father of modern Danish furniture.
After completing his studies, Wikkelsø went on to work with famed Danish architect and furniture maker Jacob Kjær. After a time with Kjær, he moved on. He went to work for designer and architect Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen at Hvidt & Mølgaard, a firm established by Mølgaard-Nielsen — Wikkelsø’s former instructor at the Technical Society School — and Peter Hvidt that yielded more than 250 designs and lasted over 30 years.
In 1954, Wikkelsø opened his own design studio in Aarhus, Denmark. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he made quite a name for himself, with designs that were new and innovative to the industry at the time. He created furniture for Holger Christiansen and secured commissions from the Danish government. While he’s likely best known today for his inviting teak and leather lounge chairs or slender rosewood dining chairs, some of Wikkelsø’s 1960s-era lounge chairs merged Danish craftsmanship and Pop art with their unconventionally shaped chrome frames and vibrantly colored upholstery.
Wikkelsø passed away in 1999, but collectors around the world continue to prize his outstanding designs.
Find vintage Illum Wikkelsø tables, seating and case pieces on 1stDibs.
Fried Egg Teak Easychair by Hans Olsen 1950s
By Hans Olsen
Located in Handewitt, DE
Old FRied Egg easychai by Hans Olsen for Bramin Denmark 1956. Produced 1950s in solid teak. Old versiion with screws. Later reupholstered in a red wool fabric from Kvadrat. This work...
Fabric, Teak
Illum Wikkelsø Lounge Chair Model 'ML91' 1950s / New Upholstered!
By A. Mikael Laursen, Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Handewitt, DE
Illum Wikkelsø for A. Mikael Laursen, Danish organic shaped lounge chair with ottoman. Model ML91. Legs / base in solid oak wood. New upholstered with grey Kvadrat Hallingdal by AP P...
Fabric, Oak
Model 33 Easychair by Carl Edward Matthes 1950s
By Carl Edward Matthes
Located in Handewitt, DE
Easychair, model 33 by Carl Edward Matthes, 1952. Produced by CE Matthes Denmark. This chair was produced for only 15 years. The frame is made in beech wood. ...
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Mid Century Danish Bear Lounge Chair by Bent Møller Jepsen
Located in Handewitt, DE
Mid century danish bear lounge chair by Bent Møller Jepsen for Simo Denmark 1959. Beautiful, rarely offered bear chair. Early production. Legs and ends of the armrests in solid teak....
Teak
1960s Rare Easychair Group by Sven Ellekær for Søren Willadsen
Located in Handewitt, DE
Rare offered easychairs with dark brown leather and nice wood (rosewood) base by Sven Ellekaer / Ellekaer for Søren Willadsen Denmark 1960s. Model "Kombinationsgruppe 116". Two chair...
Leather, Wood
Illum Wikkelsø Lounge Chair for Mikael Laursen 1960s / New Upholstered!
By Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Handewitt, DE
Illum Wikkelsø for A. Mikael Laursen, Danish organic shaped lounge chair with ottoman. ML-Series. Legs / base in solid oak. New upholstered by a proffessional danish upholster with d...
Fabric, Oak
Fabric 'Croissant' Lounge Chair by Illum Wikkelsø for GUBI
By Gubi, Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabric 'Croissant' Lounge Chair by Illum Wikkelsø for GUBI Playful, voluptuous and expertly crafted, the newly reimagined Croissant Collection from GUBI makes a powerful statement i...
Steel
Danish Lounge Chair by Illum Wikkelsø for Holger Christiansen, Denmark, 1960s
By Illum Wikkelsø, Hans J. Wegner, Holger Christiansen
Located in Berlin, DE
Very beautiful lounge chair designed by Illum Wikkelsø and produced by Holger Christiansen in the 1960s in Denmark. The lounge chair comes with a beautifully patinated brown leather...
Leather
Fabric 'Croissant' Lounge Chair by Illum Wikkelsø for Gubi
By Gubi, Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabric 'Croissant' lounge chair by Illum Wikkelsø for GUBI. Playful, voluptuous and expertly crafted, the newly reimagined Croissant collection from GUBI makes a powerful statement ...
Steel
Leather 'Croissant' Lounge Chair by Illum Wikkelsø for Gubi
By Gubi, Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather 'Croissant' lounge chair by Illum Wikkelsø for GUBI. Playful, voluptuous and expertly crafted, the newly reimagined Croissant Collection from GUBI makes a powerful statement...
Steel
Chunky lounge chair by Gösta Jonsson, Sweden, 1950s
By Gösta Jonsson
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Great lounge chair designed and made by Gösta Jonsson, Sweden, during the 1950s. Clean modernistic design. Truly a Scandinavian Modern piece.
Fabric, Beech
Vintage Danish Model 39 Easy Chair by Kai Lyngfeldt Larsen for Søren Willadsen
By Søren Willadsen, Kai Lyngfeldt Larsen
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This rare model 39 armchair was designed by Kai Lyngfeldt Larsen for the Danish manufacturer Søren Willadsen during the 1960s. The armchair is distinguished by its low profile and di...
Leather, Wood
