Mid-Century Danish MK310 Teak Dining Chairs by Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold, 1950s, Set of 4

A beautifully sculptural set of 4 Vintage Danish Mid Century Arne Hovmand-Olsen MK310 teak dining chairs with original black vinyl upholstery for Mogens Kold, 1950s.

Originally designed by Olsen in 1951 and manufactured by Mogens Kold, Denmark, these chairs stand out as one of the very first chair designs Olsen created. The chairs feature a sculptural organic back shape that is constructed with a feature insert of plywood and solid teak. Olsen was recognised as being one of the forerunners of using this technique to add strength and durability to his designs as well as creating beautifully sculptured forms that appear as carved from solid wood. This is a design and construction style also adopted by many of his contemporaries including Niels Otto Moller, and many of the designs created by them both are often misattributed as each other’s as they share many similar details and characteristics.

These particular chairs were produced with two options of seating style and fabric: one was the famous Danish paper cord seat that was widely used in the 50’s and 60s, and the other, as here, in simple black vinyl. The vinyl used on Mid Century Danish seating is very durable and impressed with a realistic grain that actually makes it very difficult to tell it apart from leather. The other advantage of the vinyl is that as it is intentionally used without a foam insert it accentuates the clean, crisp angular line of the seating base which acts as a counterpoint to the softer more flowing lines of the wooden structure. Plus it’s a lot easier to keep clean and in good condition compared to paper cord!

The set is in very good vintage condition with light marks in the wooden frame and on the seats here and there commensurate with age and use – all the joints are solid and sound. Three of the four chairs maintain both the Danish quality control and the MK manufacturer’s metal labels as shown in the pictures, the other is missing in action, maybe eaten by a tiny cockapoo…

The chairs are very much in ‘found’ condition and have just had a simple rub down and application of wax to bring them up to a soft sheen. Note that it is a hard seat as there is no foam underlay, but they look good with such sharp lines and are, in any event, very easy chairs to upholster if you have a mind to.