It’s been a very exciting few months for lovers of Danish design brand Menu as this season they have launched not one but several new collections.
There’s been ‘Olfacte’, their first range of deliciously scented candles, a gorgeous series of decorative objects created with New York stylist of the moment Colin King, several beautiful pieces added to their growing lighting range, as well as a very special furniture collection.
Titled ‘Icons by Menu’ these six exceptional pieces all celebrate craftsmanship, heritage and a shared commitment to design that lasts a lifetime.
Here’s more about each of the designs:
The Penguin Chair by Ib Kofod-Larsen
The Penguin is a mid-century masterpiece designed in 1953 by Ib Kofod-Larsen who took inspiration from the human form, and how a person would sit in this chair, to ensure the curved back and angled seat cradled the body perfectly.
Crafted from solid natural oak, teak or walnut veneer, with an upholstered or leather seat option, the Penguin, with its wing like flipper style arm rests, is available as an elegant lounge chair, sculptural rocking chair or lightweight dining chair.
The Elizabeth Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Ib Kofod-Larsen
Arguably Ib Kofod-Larsen’s most iconic design, the U-56 as it was originally known, was affectionately renamed the ‘Elizabeth Chair’ in 1962 when Queen Elizabeth II purchased a pair during a visit to Copenhagen.
Well-proportioned and well designed, with its sculpted armrests and low sleigh-like seat; it looks just as incredible today as it did when it was first designed seventy years ago, and if that wasn’t enough, there is an accompanying ottoman to pop your feet on too.
The Pagode Sofa by Tove and Edvard Kindt-Larsen
This expressive and unique mid-century sofa inspired by Asian architecture and temples, was originally created in 1956 by Tove and Edvard Kindt-Larsen.
A rare reissue of a classic, this piece is striking in its simplicity thanks to its light, precise design language and unconventional features which are all beautifully crafted to cradle and support the body as it sits.
The Radiohus Sofa by Vilhelm Lauritzen
Designed in 1936 for the foyer of The Royal Danish Academy of Music or Radiohus, this rare and unique design from Vilhelm Lauritzen epitomises Nordic functionalism perfectly.
This modern design shunned the conservative, straight lines of the time in favour of a more futuristic expression, with its elegant curved lines, long and slender frame and beautifully upholstered seat and back rest.
The Oda Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Arne Madsen
A revolutionary piece back in 1957, the Oda Lounge Chair, originally named the MS-9, was created by the Danish furniture upholsterer-turned-designer Arnold Madsen.
Complex to craft, Menu’s modern-day reinterpretation is shaped from a vintage piece as no original drawings still exist, and with its horseshoe back, integrated wooden armrests and gently moulded seat; surely this is the perfect armchair to rest and relax in after a hard day.
The Seal Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Ib Kofod-Larsen
Available in both a low and high back model, Ib Kofod-Larsen’s Seal Lounge Chair was first commissioned by the Swedish furniture company Olof Persons Fåtöljindustri, better known as OPE Möbler, in the mid-1950s.
Going on to be a huge commercial success at the time, the Seal’s angled frame, which is available in leather or an upholstered finish, and tactile wooden armrests puts comfort at the fore. I dare you not to lounge!
All images courtesy of Menu.
To find out more about the Icons by Menu collection, visit their website.
Enjoyed reading this post? Then find out more about the AW22 collection from fellow Danish design brand, &Tradition.
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