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Hans J. Wegner: “PP 208”. Set of 12 mahogany armchairs. Upholstered with black leather. Designed in 1972. Estimate: DKK 25,000.

Design and art from the historic Schæffergården manor

Børge Mogensen, Hans J. Wegner, Mogens Lassen and Poul Kjærholm. Furniture by some of the biggest names in Danish design history stood side by side at Schæffergården in the company of modern art. The interior from Schæffergården are now set to go under the hammer at the Online Auction on 15 October.

 

It has served as stables for the royal cavalry. It has been subject to speculative construction. It has served both as a private residence and a tenement house. It has also been home to both a prince and a wholesaler. Schæffergården has seen it all. Treasures from an historical era can now be yours when memories switch hands.

An era in Danish architecture and design

Schæffergården holds a special place in many people’s memories. For generations, this elegant conference centre, scenically nestled in a prime location between Bernstoffsparken and Dyrehaven north of Copenhagen, has provided the venue for gatherings, festivities, conferences and dinners. Culture and refinement reigned in its beautiful halls and old main building, a balm for the soul. Schæffergården enabled “Fonden for Dansk-Norsk Samarbejde” (The Foundation for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation) to foster cross-border cultural exchange, offering Norwegians in Denmark scholarships, cultural activities and good, hearty meals. It was imperative that the interior of Schæffergården be the epitome of Danish cultural refinement and taste.

Poul Kjærholm: "PK 9". Set of six chairs with steel frame. Upholstered with natural leather. Estimate: DKK 60,000–80,000.
Poul Kjærholm: “PK 54”. Dining table with cube-shaped steel frame and marble top. Designed in 1963. Estimate: DKK 30,000–40,000.
Hans J. Wegner: “The Chair”. 2 chairs. Estimate: DKK 25,000.
Mogens Lassen: “Ægypterbord” (Egypt table). Estimate: DKK 20,000–25,000.

“The architecture and furnishings from Schæffergården have left an indelible mark on the nation’s architectural and design heritage, embraced by the Danish-Norwegian exchange cooperation, which first saw the light of day with “Danskesuppen” (Danish soup) served to Norwegian schoolchildren during World War II. We look forward to presenting historical design icons at our Online Auction.”

 Poul Svalgaard Henriksen

Specialist in Modern Decorative Art & Design at Bruun Rasmussen

In 1950, the architect Palle Suenson was asked to furnish the house for Norwegian and Danish scholars and other guests. The next extension of Schæffergården took place in 1972 with the addition of a three-storey wing, rooms, a restaurant and an outdoor terrace designed by Vilhelm Wohlert, the architect behind Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, echoing his signature almost ethereal glass design. A thorough renovation of Schæffergården in 1986–87 by the architect Hans Henrik Olrik offered new possibilities to showcase contemporary Danish furniture design in an enhanced setting.

Several owners

If we travel even further back in time, it was thanks to a master cabinetmaker favoured by the royal court that Schæffergården was built in idyllic North Zealand in the first place. Dietrich Schäffer, his name Danified to Didrik Schæffer, had the idea to build Schæffergården and to sell it on to the royal family. The venture faltered somewhat when, in 1771, he was forced to relinquish the house, which, in 1781, passed into the hands of the Golden Age literary icon Knud Lyhne Rahbæk. The quiet, simple country life at fashionable summer residences in North Zealand was in vogue and appealed to Knud Lyhne and his wife Kamma Rahbæk. The favoured playground and rural retreat of the Copenhagen elite and the aristocracy, it was where the nobility, the bourgeoisie and aesthetes indulged in pastoral pleasures amidst the exalted scenery. In 1909, Prince Harald, the son of King Frederik VIII, acquired Schæffergården with his wife Princess Helena. Briefly, the house was renamed Jægersborghus. In 1920, the house was sold to Ernst Michaelsen, the director and chairman of Vacuum Oil Company’s Danish company.

Kaare Klint and the architect’s dream

Recognising Schæffergården’s potential, the new owner promptly enlisted the help of one of the most talented and visionary architects of the day. Given carte blanche on the restoration of Schæffergården, Kaare Klint cut his architectural teeth on the project. The renovation, which took two years, drained the coffers, leaving no money for Klint to design the furniture as well. Kaare Klint’s most iconic furniture designs include Faaborgstolen (the Faaborg Chair) and Kirkestolen (the Church Chair). Several of his chairs and sofas – all classics in Danish furniture design – were later acquired for Schæffergården and are now going under the hammer at Online Auction.

Børge Mogensen: Set of ten beech Windsor chairs. Model 3250. Made for FDB. Estimate: DKK 6,000.
Jeppe Vontillius: Reading woman. Signed. Estimate: DKK 4,000-5,000.
Kaare Klint: Free-standing three-seater sofa with mahogany cross frame. Seat, sides and back upholstered with pink wool. Model 4118. Designed in 1930. Made by Rud. Rasmussen. L. 200. Estimate: DKK 25,000–30,000.

Fonden for Dansk-Norsk Samarbejde

In 1950, Schæffergården was acquired by Fonden for Dansk-Norsk Samarbejde (the Foundation for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation). Founded in 1946, the foundation drew from funds raised in Denmark during the last year of the war. Three Norwegian women living in Denmark had spearheaded a women’s committee, launching a private foundation to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Nazi-occupied Norway through the collection of clothing, money, ration stamps and aid packages. In 1944 alone, the Women’s Committee sent 175,000 aid packages to Norwegians in need. Danish schoolchildren also rallied, collecting extensively. Parents could sponsor a Norwegian child for 3 kroner a month, which provided food for that child for a month. “Danskesuppen”, a hearty oatmeal soup, was especially well known, nourishing more than 50,000 Norwegian children daily. This stands as one of the largest ever humanitarian aid projects in Denmark.
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Online Auction

Design & Art from Schæffergården

15 October

View the entire selection

For further information, please contact

Poul Svalgaard Henriksen Portrait

Poul Svalgaard Henriksen

Poul Svalgaard Henriksen

Specialist / Modern Decorative Art & Design / København

Items for sale

Børge Mogensen

See all 18 lots by Børge Mogensen

Hans J. Wegner

See all 26 lots by Hans J. Wegner

Mogens Lassen

Poul Kjærholm

See all 5 lots by Poul Kjærholm

Kaare Klint