Sofa from the Casework collection in collaboration with Snøhetta, a series of lounge furniture made with extra focus on sustainability and craftmanship.
A legacy of globally esteemed icons, produced locally It all began in a little workshop in Svendborg, Denmark. The year was 1954, a time when people did what they could to prolong the lifetime of their belongings, much like today. So that’s what Erik Jørgensen started doing for a living: as a trained saddler and upholsterer, he gave new life to worn-out upholstery furniture and soon became known for his skill, precision and care. So much so, that Hans J. Wegner knocked on his door one day. The rest is history – a history that put iconic pieces from Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik into many homes and acclaimed spaces globally. But production stays local in Svendborg.
between him and flourishing designers a few years later – designers such as Rud Thygesen and Johnny Sørensen, who challenged the status quo through their modern modes of expression,” says Niels Jørgensen, who took over the company with his brother Ole when their father passed away in 1998.
By Camilla Pedersen | Photos: Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik
Icons in the making
“Our dad was very visionary and slowly grew his upholstery business, piece by piece, with uncompromisingly high standards of quality and craftmanship. In the early 1960s, he moved out of his little workshop and into a furniture factory, where he could also develop his own designs. It was a decade that was characterised by change and innovation. People had 16 | Issue 134 | March 2020
an increased spending power, and that was reflected in private homes. A wind of change swept across continents and offered room for elegant and light designs to replace the dark and heavy pieces that had furnished private homes. This development shaped the designs that were produced in his factory and also marked the beginning of a series of collaborations
The praise of Erik Jørgensen’s work quickly spread, and iconic designers such as Hans J. Wegner and Poul M. Volther approached him with their challenging designs, which demanded supreme upholstery skills and finesse. “Hans J. Wegner contacted our dad in 1988, as his Ox chair from 1960 had proven difficult to upholster. One year later, it was launched at the international furniture fair in