Set of 4 dining chairs ‘Model 78’ by Niels O. Moller (Sold)
Rare set of 4 dining chairs ‘model 78’ designed by Niels Otto Moller and produced by J.L. Moller in Denmark during the 1960’s. Niels Moller made a lot of chairs in his lifetime, but this is one of his finest designs. The refined frames are perfectly in balance and crafted into perfection. On this specific set the dark rosewood frames have been restored entirely and the papercord has been weaven by hand recently. All chairs are marked underneath with a maker’s stamp. The grain on the wood and the elegant design of the frames make these a true Danish design classic. In very good condition.
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W: 49 cm
D: 45 cm
H: 80 cm
Seating H: 45 cm
Weight: approx. 6 kilo/ chair
Material: Solid rosewood, papercord
Niels Otto Moller (1920 – 1982) was one of the original designers of the reknown Scandinavian modern movement that swept through postwar Europe and, eventually, the United States.
At the tender age of 19, Møller studied to be a cabinetmaker, gaining a strong affinity for working with natural materials. He furthered his education at the local design academy in his hometown of Århus, Denmark, where, in 1944, he established J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik. Møller’s first chair — called simply No. 1 — was introduced in 1946. In 1961, he expanded his thriving business by opening a factory in Højbjerg, producing his popular dining chairs as well as armchairs, lounge chairs, tables and more. Rather than unnecessary ornamentation, he focused on a warm and more minimalist approach that valued function over form. Nearly all of his pieces, from the 1962 Model 78 chair to his simple tables, feature gentle curves formed from woods such as rosewood and and teak.
Though the furnishings boasted a contemporary look and were a departure from the ornate designs of the recent past, Møller’s company crafted all of them using traditional, age-old techniques. For instance, the 1959 Model 77 side chair’s seat is handwoven using a single 129 meter-long cord. Today, the Danish furniture designer’s refined pieces continue to be as sought after as they were when mid-century modernism was in full swing.
The company, still based in its original factory, remains a family business, now led by Kirsten Møller who is Niels Møller’s granddaughter,. Along with new pieces, they craft the celebrated original designs, from raw wood to finished assembled products, that made J.L. Møllers Møbelfabrik a renowned name in Danish Modern design.
