Arne Hovmand-Olsen

Arne Hovmand-Olsen was a prominent Danish furniture designer born in Kirkeby Sogn, Denmark, in 1919. From a young age, he exhibited a talent for drawing and design, leading him to apprentice with cabinetmaker Peder Olsen Sibast at Sibast Furniture in 1938. Hovmand-Olsen also studied furniture design at Århus Technical School and graduated from in 1941. He then established his own design company and produced work for some of Denmark’s leading furniture makers.

Hovmand-Olsen is renowned for his contribution to the Scandinavian modern style, characterized by clean lines, organic curves, and tapered legs, utilizing high-quality woods like teak and rosewood. His designs gained notable success in Denmark and were later exported internationally, particularly to America. Among his acclaimed works are the MK71 Chair (1955) and the MK511 Sideboard designed for Mogens Kold.

Throughout his career, Hovmand-Olsen collaborated with various Danish furniture companies, including Alf Juul Rasmussen, AR Klingenberg & Søn, Bramin, JL Møller, and Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik. Hovamd-Olsen’s prolific career ended in the 1970s when illness forced him to close his business, he passed away in 1989. Today, his work continues to be celebrated for its timeless elegance and refined craftsmanship, leaving a celebrated legacy in the world of furniture design.