The Penguin Rocker

Description from Goods We Love

Most people know the Swan and the Ant as danish chair classics – but what about the Penguin?

In the United States during the 1950s this series of chairs by furniture designer Ib Kofod-Larsen sold more than its more known Danish cousins. The light and modern chairs were successfully launched in 1953 by the U.S. furniture company Selig and in the following years Selig imported and sold thousands of copies on the U.S. market.

The Penguin series has now been taken into production by Brdr. Petersen, Denmark and it includes a dining chair, a low lounge chair and a rocking chair. All models feature back with veneer in oak, walnut or teak optionally available fully upholstered.

The seats are upholstered in fabric or leather. The rocking chair has rockers in solid Ash, natural or black stained.

Ib Kofod-Larsen (1921-2003) belongs to the same generation as his more famous colleagues Hans J. Wegner and Børge Mogensen, and like them he took the journey from carpentry to architectural school. From the late 1940s, he designed a number of startling furniture for Cabinetmakers Guild exhibitions.

Kofod-Larsen was an architect and furniture designer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Denmark, he was quick to establish a reputation as one of the best designers both in Denmark and internationally. His designs were popular in the 60s and have since gained new popularity as his furniture remains extremely sought after.

Kofod-Larsen based his inspiration on the natural beauty of wood in its rawest form. Every tree is an individual and every inch of a tree bears an entirely unique graining, so that every piece of furniture produced is one-of-a-kind in the beauty of its delicate surface markings.

His work was recognizable through his clean lines, often in beautiful rosewood or palisander and have become highly coveted by design collectors over the years.