The Danish enfilade, THE Scandinavian design classic

Among post-war design furniture, the Scandinavian sideboard remains a timeless classic for any vintage design enthusiast. There isn't a contemporary furniture publisher who doesn't have a Scandinavian-style enfilade in their catalogue! This article looks at the reasons why this piece of furniture has become a classic of Scandinavian, and more specifically Danish, design. It's no coincidence that the success of the Danish enfilade coincided with the golden age of Scandinavian design furniture (1935-1965)... In France, long before the 20th century, the enfilade was often equated with a sideboard. During the Directoire period, it was made from walnut or elm burl, then in the 19th century from mahogany. At the beginning of the 20th century, it followed the evolution of styles - we were in the middle of the Art Deco period - and became flirtatious with exotic wood colours, in this case rosewood. In France, long before the 20th century, the enfilade was often equated with a sideboard. During the Directoire period, it was made of walnut or elm burl, then in the 19th century of mahogany. At the beginning of the 20th century, it followed the evolution of styles - we were in the middle of the Art Deco period - and became flamboyant with exotic wood colours, in this case rosewood. Property Directoire sideboard in cherry and elm burr for the door panels, drawer fronts and pilasters. Source https://www.antiquites-en-france.com/ An estate Directoire sideboard in cherrywood and elm burr for the door panels, drawer fronts and pilasters. Source https://www.antiquites-en-france.com/ Property Directoire sideboard in cherry and elm burr for the door panels, drawer fronts and pilasters. The 3 drawers open. Property Directoire sideboard in cherry and burr elm for the door panels, drawer fronts and pilasters. All 3 drawers open. Property Directoire sideboard in cherry and burr elm for the door panels, drawer fronts and pilasters. Opening of the 3 drawers. source : Antiquité en France Art Deco sideboard with glazed space, entirely made of solid mahogany, except for the top, 1920 Art Deco sideboard with glazed space, entirely made of solid mahogany, except for the top, 1920 source : Antiquité en France source : Antiquité en France Art Deco sideboard with glazed space, entirely made of solid mahogany, except for the top, 1920. Cupboard opening. Art Deco sideboard with glazed area, made entirely of solid mahogany, except for the top, 1920. Opening the cupboards. source: Antiquité en France source: Antiquité en France The pure Scandinavian sideboard appeared in Scandinavia just after the Second World War. Found in many Scandinavian homes (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland), it became a classic of Nordic interiors, before being exported more widely across Europe. Let's start by defining what we mean by a "Scandinavian enfilade". It's a piece of furniture made up of at least 3 "enfilade" sections, made up of several modules with alternating hinged or sliding doors, drawer units and sometimes, if you get thirsty, bar shelves that open outwards. The originality of this low sideboard lies in the fact that it seems to "float" in suspension, generally resting on a mid-height base. While the depth of this piece of furniture is modest, even small, it is not uncommon to find enfilades that are over 200 cm long! Exceptional large Scandinavian enfilade, designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, 1960s. Furniture in rosewood with a length of 230 cm. Exceptional large Scandinavian sideboard, designer: Ib Kofod-Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, 1960s. Furniture in rosewood with a length of 230 cm. Source: Design market Source: Design market Exceptional large Scandinavian sideboard, designer: Ib Kofod-Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, 1960s. Furniture in rosewood with a length of 230 cm. Exceptional large Scandinavian sideboard, designer: Ib Kofod-Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, 1960s. Furniture in rosewood with a length of 230 cm. Source: Design market Source: Design market The Scandinavians popularised this piece of furniture with a style that reflects their lifestyle and corresponds to the way they conceive of design. It's a wooden piece of furniture that brings a certain warmth to a room, with straight lines and the occasional curve. The lines are airy and the volumes rectilinear, a fairly pure style that leaves no room for ornamentation... Scandinavian furniture hates to overdo it! The simplicity of the lines and impeccable finish are complemented by the desire to make the enfilade a practical piece of furniture with sliding doors and storage space, correctly sized and therefore comfortable. Finally, the Scandinavian enfilade adopts compass legs and discreet front-cut handles. The Scandinavians popularised this piece of furniture with a style that reflects their lifestyle and corresponds to the way they conceive of design. It's a wooden piece of furniture that brings a certain warmth to a room, with straight lines and the occasional curve. The lines are airy and the volumes rectilinear, a fairly pure style that leaves no room for ornamentation... Scandinavian furniture hates to overdo it! The simplicity of the lines and impeccable finish are complemented by the desire to make the enfilade a practical piece of furniture with sliding doors and storage space, correctly sized and therefore comfortable. Finally, the Scandinavian sideboard has compass legs and discreet cut-out handles on the front. Vintage Danish sideboard in rosewood with 4 sliding doors. Inside: drawers and storage space. Vintage Danish sideboard in rosewood with 4 sliding doors. Inside: drawers and storage space. Source: Design Market Source: Design Market Cuban mahogany sideboard, designed by Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussen Cabinetmakers, early 1930s. Cuban mahogany sideboard, designed by Kaare Klint for Rud. Rasmussen Cabinetmakers, early 1930s. Source: 1stdibs Source: 1stdibs Sideboard, model RY-25, designed by Hans J. Wegner. Oak, rosewood legs and louvered doors. Sideboard, RY-25 model, designed by Hans J. Wegner. Oak, rosewood legs and louvered doors. Source: Pamono Source: Pamono At this point in the article, you might be wondering why we call it a "Danish sideboard". It seems quite simply that the Danes, not content with having an exceptional generation of designers in the post-war period (Hans WEGNER, Arne JACOBSEN, Borge MOGENSEN, Verner PANTON, etc.), were able to industrialise their production as efficiently as possible. One of the characteristics of Scandinavian design is that it offers inexpensive furniture that is accessible to the general public. The furniture industry also developed exceptionally well in Denmark in the 50s and 60s, thanks to a network of very active furniture publishers and manufacturers. The best known and most established are of course Fritz Hansen, Søborg Møbelfabrik, Carl Hansen & Søn, FDB Møbler and Fredericia Stolefabrik, but there are also Clausen and Søn, Faarup Møbelfabrik, Mogens Kold, Silkeborg Møbelfabrik and Brande Møbelfabrik. Danish teak sideboard by Clausen and Søn of Silkeborg, 1960s. Detail of the manufacturer's signature. Danish sideboard in teak from the publisher Clausen and Søn in Silkeborg, 1960s. Detail of the manufacturer's signature. Source Pamono Source Pamono Vintage Danish sideboard in teak, designed by Ib Kofod Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, 1960. Vintage Danish sideboard in teak, designed by Ib Kofod Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, 1960. Source: Design Market Source: Design Market Magnifique enfilade danoise vintage en teck, modèle Mk 189, design Arne Hovmand-Olsen pour Mogens Kold, 1960 Magnifique enfilade danoise vintage en teck, modèle Mk 189, design Arne Hovmand-Olsen pour Mogens Kold, 1960 Source: Design Market Source: Design Market Enfilade danoise vintage en teck, design Kurt Østervig pour Brande Møbelfabrik, 1950. Vintage Danish sideboard in teak, designed by Kurt Østervig for Brande Møbelfabrik, 1950. Source: Design Market Source: Design Market Just as there is an active database of manufacturers, some of them more anonymous, the same applies to Danish designers of the period. In addition to the great names mentioned above, Finn Juhl, Børge Mogensen, Ole Wanscher and Arne Vodder also had contemporaries who were active in traditional Danish cabinetmaking. Their names include Ib Kofold, Johannes Andersen, Niels Otto Moller, Illum Wikkelsø, Preben Juul Fabricius, Jørgen Kastholm, Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Kurt Østervig... Just as there is an active base of manufacturers, some of them more anonymous, the same applies to Danish designers of the period. In addition to the great names mentioned above, Finn Juhl, Børge Mogensen, Ole Wanscher and Arne Vodder also had contemporaries who were active in traditional Danish cabinetmaking. Their names are Ib Kofold, Johannes Andersen, Niels Otto Moller, Illum Wikkelsø, Preben Juul Fabricius, Jørgen Kastholm, Arne Hovmand-Olsen, Kurt Østervig... Vintage sideboard Model 20, design by Niels Otto Moller for JL Mollers Møbelfabrik, Denmark 1960. Vintage sideboard, Model 20, designed by Niels Otto Moller for JL Mollers Møbelfabrik, Denmark 1960. Source: Design market Source: Design market Vintage Danish sideboard in teak, designed by Johannes Andersen for Silkeborg, 1960. Vintage Danish sideboard in teak, designed by Johannes Andersen for Silkeborg, 1960. Vintage Danish sideboard in teak, designed by Johannes Andersen for Silkeborg, 1960. Source: Design market Source: Design market Source: Design market While the Danish teak sideboard was a hit, materials were changing and with them furniture. From the 50s to the 70s, light wood and teak gave way to laminate and melamine. Departing from the minimalist Scandinavian design, sideboards gradually became more and more decorative... An error of taste for Scandinavian sideboard purists? The Danish teak sideboard may be a hit, but the materials were changing, and with them the furniture. From the 50s to the 70s, light wood and teak were replaced by laminate and melamine. Departing from the minimalist Scandinavian design, enfilades gradually became adorned with increasingly decorative trimmings... An error in taste for Scandinavian enfilade purists? François Boutard François Boutard

The Danish enfilade, THE Scandinavian design classic

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