The giant of mid-century furniture design France & Søn began its remarkable journey as a Danish firm specializing in the production and exporting of Scandinavian design called France & Daverkosen.
British businessman Charles William Fearnley France and Danish cabinetmaker Eric Daverkosen entered into a joint venture in 1936 — France being the investor and Daverkosen the head designer for their small mattress factory. Soon after production started at the France & Daverkosen company, Daverkosen became quite ill.
Concerned for his friend and their fledgling business, France traveled to Denmark, and Daverkosen died soon after his partner arrived. While France was attempting to make arrangements to transfer the company into his hands, World War II erupted, and Germany invaded Denmark. As a British citizen, France was captured and sent to a prison camp in Germany.
While in captivity, France developed several manufacturing ideas to pass the time and to keep his mind focused. He imagined a way to create lightweight wooden chairs that could be manufactured on an industrial scale and transported using an economic flat-pack format. He also thought of a way to retool his mattress factory to create chair backs, seats and sofa cushions.
Once freed, France returned to his business in Denmark and began to manufacture beech and teak goods that were gaining widespread acclaim around the world. He began to surround himself with some of the best Scandinavian designers of the time: Finn Juhl, Grete Jalk and Ole Wanscher, to name a few.
By 1954, France & Daverkosen accounted for 60 percent of all Danish furniture exports and their factory employed 350 people. Charles’s son James joined the company in 1957, which resulted in the name change to France & Søn.
Later, France & Søn was acquired by Danish designer Poul Cadovius, who folded it into the operations at CADO, a company he founded during the 1950s.
On 1stDibs, find France & Daverkosen seating, tables and more.
60s 70s Side Table Teak Aksel Kjersgaard Odder Møbler Danish Denmark
By Odder Furniture, Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s side table teak Aksel Kjersgaard Odder Møbler Danish Denmark Object: side table Manufacturer: Condition: good - vintage Age: around ...
Teak
60s 70s Stool Ottoman Stool Space Age Mid Century Design 60s 70s
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s stool ottoman stool space age mid century design 60s 70s Object: stool Manufacturer: Condition: good - vintage Age: around 1960-1970 ...
Metal
60s 70s Dining Chair Arm Chair Danish Design Teak Denmark
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s dining chair arm chair Danish Design Teak Denmark 60s Object: armchair Manufacturer: Condition: good Age: around 1960-1970 Dime...
Fabric, Teak
60s 70s Teak Easy Chair Juul Kristensen Danish Denmark Design 60s
By Juul Kristensen
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s Teak Easy Chair Juul Kristensen Danish Denmark Design 60s Object: Easy Chair Manufacturer: Juul Kristensen Condition: good Age: around 1960-1970 Dimensions: ...
Fabric, Teak
60s 70s Teak Armchair Desk Chair Th. Harlev for Farstrup
By Faarup Møbelfabrik, Thomas Harlev
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s teak armchair desk chair Th. Harlev for Farstrup 60s Object: armchair Manufacturer: Farstrup Condition: good Age: around 1960-1970 Dimensions: 55cm x 54cm x...
Fabric, Teak
1960s-1970s Teak Table Side Table Newspaper Stand Danish Design, Denmark
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
1960s-1970s Teak table side table newspaper stand Danish Design, Denmark Object: side table Manufacturer: Condition: good Age: around 1960-1970 Dimensions: Width = ...
Teak
teak ottoman by Inger Klingenberg for France & Daverkosen
By Inger Klingenberg, France & Daverkosen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
great teak framed stool or footrest. new Upholstery. teak is in great shape. works great as an ottoman or a sitting stool.
Teak
Upholstered teak ottoman/stool, by H.W.Klein for Bramin, Denmark
By H.W. Klein, Bramin Mobler
Located in Schwerin, MV
Three identical teak ottomans/stools from Bramin Denmark, in all likelihood, based on the manufacturer's label and the design designed by H.W.Klein in the 1960s, upholstered in black...
Leather, Upholstery, Teak
Foot Stool / Ottoman in Solid Teak Styled After Hans Wegner in Teak, c. 1980s
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a splendid footstool designed in the manner of Hans Wegner's "Papa Bear" chair ottoman. Constructed from solid Burmese teak, replete with outstanding variegated woodgrain...
Teak
Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Corner Ottoman Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern corner ottoman stool featuring an unusual triangular form, tapered solid teak legs, and original patterned upholstery. This sculptural Danish stool ...
Teak
Mid-Century Beech Stool with Brown Leather Seat, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Charming mid-century stool crafted in beech wood with original brown leather upholstery. Produced by a Danish furniture maker around the 1950s, this piece reflects the clean lines an...
Leather, Beech
Vintage teak stool by Hugo Frandsen for Spøttrup Danish Mid-Century Design 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
Very nice decorative stool made by the Danish designer Hugo Frandsen, for the Danish furniture producer Spøttrup Mobler in the 1960s. The stool has a tripod structure in high quali...
Faux Leather, Teak
