Viggo Boesen

Trained as an architect, Viggo Boesen was a key figure in Danish furniture design of the 1930s. His designs have an organic style that reflects his design philosophy. The end result is a piece that is pleasing to the eye, yet also structurally sound and durable. Born in Copenhagen in 1907, he studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where he trained and began designing his first pieces of furniture in his own flat in Copenhagen. Whilst still a student, he presented his creations to the Danish public and enjoyed enormous success thanks to his ‘functional’ approach to design, a technique that was gaining in popularity, particularly since the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition.

Viggo Boesen gained recognition by championing the ‘Funki’ style, which was very popular within the Scandinavian design scene. With his design entries for the ‘Political Pattern House Competition’ in 1935, he conceived a villa with a highly innovative aesthetic. This architectural style was combined with the predominant use of natural materials. Boesen studied and celebrated nature, constantly incorporating it into his design projects. The harmonious forms of the natural landscape are reflected in his furniture designs, creating an organic and fluid vision. The whole approach was informed by an environmentally conscious mindset, which was extremely pioneering for its time.

It is in his creations known as ‘Little Petra’ that we find the pinnacle of his architectural philosophy. Named after his mother-in-law, this collection comprises just around thirty pieces of designer armchairs and sofas produced during his lifetime. Today, the various versions in wool and sheepskin have achieved international renown. This fame is undoubtedly due to his pioneering design approach, centred on natural materials and sustainability.