Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier '4698' Sofa with Ottoman in Cognac Leather and Mahogany

Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier, sofa with Ottoman, model ‘4698’, leather, mahogany, Denmark, design 1933, made late 1970s

This sofa is designed by Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen and was part of Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Furniture Exhibition in 1933. This design embodies the quintessential essence of Danish design with its understated simplicity and elegant appearance. The thick-padded seat is upholstered in cognac leather that received admirable patina throughout the years. The top features a rhomboid surface held in place with leather-covered buttons. The base adheres to a simple design with rectangular-shaped feet executed in mahogany.

Kaare Klint (1888-1954), born in 1988 in Frederiksburg, Denmark, was a Danish architect and furniture designer. From a young age, Klint was immersed in architecture. His father was the well-known architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, who is mainly known for designing the Grundtvigs church in Copenhagen. After studying at the P.S. Krøyer’s Art School from 1907, Klint made his debut as a designer. That year, the Association of Furniture Manufacturers in Copenhagen announced that they would hold a competition for designer furniture. Klint submitted, together with Ivar Bentsen, under a code name and together they received first price. In 1924, Klint helped establishing the Department of Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. As associate professor, and later professor, he inspired some of the greatest and most well-known Danish designers, including Hans J. Wegner and Arne Jacobsen. Klint worked and thought along a few strong principles being the importance of former styles. He believed that the only way forward was to have a deep knowledge of craftsmanship. One of his other core principles was to research functionality and have an outstanding sense of proportion, space and the human body. Overall, Klint drew inspiration from the Shakers, Chippendale and Biedermeier. Kaare Klint's style from the 20s and 30s has had a lot of influence on other designers in both Europe and the United States. Amongst others Børge Mogensen, Finn Juhl and Poul Kjærholm have taken influence from Klint. Therefore, Kaare Klint can be seen as the father of Danish mid-century design.