Sideboard model “FA-66”, design Ib Kofod Larsen, rosewood, c. 1960

Ib Kofod-Larsen was a prominent Danish modern furniture designer, born in 1921. He graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole) in Copenhagen, specializing in architecture and interior design. His education coincided with the peak of the Scandinavian modernist movement, characterized by an emphasis on functionality, artisanal quality, and the use of noble woods. In 1948, Kofod-Larsen gained national recognition by winning the prestigious annual prize from the Danish Cabinetmakers' Guild (Snedkerlauget), which launched him into the Danish professional circuit and fostered collaborations with several renowned manufacturers. In the same year, he also won a design competition for Holmegaard, one of Denmark's most reputable glass factories. During the 1950s and 1960s, he established collaborations with some of the most important Nordic and European companies, including Faarup Møbelfabrik (with whom he designed the famous FA66 rosewood sideboard), Christensen & Larsen, Carlo Gahrn, Petersens, Fredericia Furniture, and the Dutch company Bovenkamp. His production for the United Kingdom included pieces for High Wycombe, a significant center for mid-century British furniture production. Kofod-Larsen favored exotic woods such as rosewood, teak, and oak, combined with natural leather upholstery, resulting in pieces with clean lines, balanced proportions, and ergonomic comfort. His work represents a synthesis of Scandinavian artisanal tradition and the international elegance of post-war design. He passed away in 2003, leaving a legacy recognized by collectors, museums and auction houses, and whose critical appreciation has grown in recent decades, especially in the context of the Scandinavian design revival of the mid-20th century.