Arnold Madsen1907–1989
Arnold Madsen remains one of the most intriguing figures of the Danish Modern movement. Although he is now recognised for several iconic designs, he worked quietly and without formal training in architecture, cabinetmaking or furniture design. Madsen’s path was shaped instead by determination, experimentation and an instinctive understanding of form and comfort. Working from a small basement workshop in Copenhagen, he developed some of the era’s most innovative upholstered furniture.
Madsen was fascinated by sculptural shapes and the possibilities of new materials. His work often explored rounded, organic forms combined with meticulous upholstery. The Oda Chair, built around a welded steel frame and a bent plywood shell with fixed armrests, is a landmark example of his forward-thinking approach. It introduced a structural solution that was both visually light and remarkably stable, reflecting his ability to merge engineering with elegant design.
One of Madsen’s most celebrated creations is the Clam Chair, first designed in 1944. Upholstered in soft sheepskin, the chair is known for its enveloping comfort and its distinctive silhouette, which resembles a two-part seashell. For many years the design was incorrectly attributed to other creators, most notably the Danish architect Philip Arctander. Recent research has confirmed that the Clam was in fact the model that launched the collaboration between Madsen & Schubell, marking the beginning of Madsen’s influential design legacy.
Today, Arnold Madsen is admired for his pioneering spirit and his contribution to Scandinavian modern furniture. His pieces are valued for their organic forms, technical innovation and enduring tactile appeal, qualities that continue to captivate collectors and connoisseurs of Danish design.
