60s Ole Gjerløv Knudsen & Torben Lind modular sofa for France & Son

Designer
Ole Gjerløv Knusden & Torben Lind
Manufacturer
France & Søn
Period
1960s
Origin
Denmark
Material
Fabric, teak
Color
Green, teak
Code
02160621ZB
Condition
Very good condition, new upholstered
Dimensions
Per fauteuil: 58x70x71cm | seat 37cm table : 95x95x31cm (wxdxh)
Price
Sold, located Bourges
Provenance
See writing below.

France & Søn started as France & Daverkosen, and their furnitures have been designed by major midcentury Danish designers, like Hvidt & Mølgaard, Grete Jalk, Finn Juhl, Arne Vodder and Ole Wansher.

When designers needed a high quality production they turned almost naturally to France and Son.
The firm must have been founded in Denmark around 1948 by British businessman Charles W. France and Danish cabinetmaker Eric Daverkosen. Mattresses may have been the company’s first focus, but by 1952 France & Daverkosen had built a large furniture factory in Hillerød, just outside of Copenhagen, and was fast becoming one of most successful Danish furniture companies dedicated to mass production rather than traditional artisanal methods. Seating that features loose cushions and light, teak frames became France & Daverkosen’s signature.

In 1957, when France’s son Julian France joined the company, the name was changed to France & Søn. Many models produced by France & Daverkosen had been named FD followed by the model number, and France & Søn continued to produce those designs under their original names while introducing new collections every year. As to what happened to Daverkosen or the reason he left the partnership, no information seems to be available.

Sometime between 1964 and 1967, Danish designer-manufacturer Poul Cadovius purchased France & Søn and renamed it CADO. Cadovius continued to produce France & Søn designs and to collaborate with an impressive roster of iconic designers, including Verner Panton, until he closed shop some time in the mid- to late-1970s.

France & Søn was the first—under the direction of Finn Juhl—to figure out how to work with teak at an industrial scale, an impressive feat in the modernist era. Furthermore, France & Son ensured its products could be easily dismantled, making them cheaper to export. In the late 1950s to early 60s, the company supplied furniture to offices of the International Monetary Fund and created large export markets in Germany and the United States. And the fact that so many France & Søn pieces can be found today in very good condition attests to the company’s achievements in quality.

This set of 4 moduline lounge fauteuils can be connected to eachother to make it 1, 2, 3 or even a 4 seat sofa. But as easily it can be turned into a living room area with four comfortable seats. The green fabric on this set is new upholstered.

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