mid century Danish teak single drawer nightstands by Arne Vodder for Falster

Along with Vernor Panton, cabinetmaker and architect Arne Vodder was a leading light of what might be called the “second generation” of forward-thinking 20th-century Danish furniture designers — those who, following in the footsteps of Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl and others, first applied the skills, traditions and philosophical tenets of Scandinavian craftsmanship to a modern furniture idiom.

Vodder was a graduate student in architecture trained by Juhl, a pioneer of furniture design credited with igniting the Scandinavian modernist movement that swept like wildfire across the United States in the postwar era. Vodder made his mark in the 1960s, when modern design had gained wide acceptance, particularly in the business world. Accordingly, many of Vodder's chairs, created for manufacturers such as France & Søn, Fritz Hansen and Sibast, are quiet in form — projecting an air of sturdiness and strength, rather than avant-garde styling.

Vodder’s aesthetic flair is very pronounced in his vintage cabinets and storage pieces — sideboards, bookcases, credenzas and buffets. In such pieces, the designer liked to play with asymmetry. 

Vodder’s bookcases often have a seemingly random array of variously sized shelves and nooks. A typical Vodder sideboard of the mid-century period — his classic Model 29 case piece is known to collectors — might have four sections, each different in purpose and look: an open stack of vertical shelves, and other cupboards covered with sliding panels in contrasting colored laminates and wood veneers.

As you will see from the works on 1stDibs, Vodder had a sense of what kind of design was appropriate for which space: sobriety in the boardroom; playfulness at home.

Find vintage Arne Vodder furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Falster Møbelfabrik furniture is effortlessly pleasing to the eye. The mid-20th-century Danish furniture manufacturer is distinguished by its gorgeous hardwood pieces boasting impeccable build quality. Durable teak and rich rosewood were among the company's favorite wood options for its chic credenzas, upscale dressers and elegant highboys. Falster Møbelfabrik pieces are characterized by clean lines, generous proportions, tapered legs and gentle curves — all of the attributes that are typically associated with the best of mid-century Scandinavian design.

While little is known about the beginnings of Falster Møbelfabrik, it was producing furniture by the 1950s. Throughout the second half of the decade, Arne Wahl Iversen worked with the manufacturer on a series of alluring Scandinavian modern pieces. A budding designer at the time, the Nyborg-born Iversen studied under legendary Danish modernist Kaare Klint at Copenhagen’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts and went on to have an illustrious career. His designs for Falster Møbelfabrik included teak tables and chairs, upholstered armchairs and multiple storage cabinets.

In the 1960s, Falster Møbelfabrik enjoyed another fruitful collaboration with talented Danish designer Svend Åge Madsen. The resulting mid-century modern furniture became some of the manufacturer's most well-known creations. Madsen's credenzas, dressers and nightstands were sensible and stylish. They came with rich wood finishes and features like spacious compartments and adjustable shelves. Thoughtful touches like felt-lined drawers and finished backs make them a sophisticated addition to any room.

Operating in the heyday of Danish furniture manufacturing, Falster Møbelfabrik left its own commanding stamp on the industry. Many of the company's vintage pieces were built with durability in mind and remain in good condition today.

On 1stDibs, find Falster Møbelfabrik storage pieces, bedroom furniture, tables and more.