icons collection
We bring together design that qualify as truly exceptional, created by visionary designers from around the world. Combining recognised masterworks with icons of tomorrow, this unique collection from Audo Copenhagen bridges the past, present and future, presenting a point-of-view beyond time, anchored in local craftsmanship and shared aesthetics.
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We are lucky to have secured a few of the design pieces in the Icons Collection. They are available to view in our showrooms and ready-to-ship (or available to order).
Here we tell you the story behind and show you the production of these two iconic pieces - The Penguin Rocking Chair and Knitting Chair by Ib Kofod-Larsen.
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Icons is a unique collection of premium furniture masterpieces rooted in international design and craft traditions. Exclusive designs from the 1950s to the present day that share harmonious proportions and a simple sensibility.
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The Penguin Rocking Chair
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The Penguin Chair
Imagined by Ib Kofod-Larsen in 1953, the signature design was first launched in the US where it received rave reviews. Echoing the aesthetics of the great American Modernists of the period, its slightly oversize proportions – a generous seat and back, the latter with integrated, flipper-like armrests – and contrasting slender metal frame ensured the sophisticated chair was anything but ordinary. A designer for the people, Kofod-Larsen’s infused his rudimentary ethos of comfort-meets-function into the Penguin; the embracing shell, upholstered seat and slanted frame offer support as the user sits.
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The Penguin Chair remains as popular today as when it was first introduced in 1953. Light and elegant with its curved wooden and upholstered back and seat, it continues to offer unparalleled sitting comfort thanks to its considered combination of quality craftsmanship and premium materials.
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The chair is available in three different iterations – dining, lounge and rocking – which bring its simple beauty to a new generation and ensures it fits a wide range of modern spaces and needs.
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Danish architect Ib Kofod-Larsen (1921-2003) had a successful career in the 1950s and 1960s when Danish design was flourishing across the world. A large part of his vast furniture catalogue was designed for the non-Danish market and manufactured abroad. This may be the reason that his furniture has undeservedly become better known internationally than in his home country of Denmark. Ib Kofod-Larsen formed part of a movement known as Danish Modern, but he went slightly under the radar and worked in the shadow of his peers.
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He drew, sculpted, made prototypes, was involved in production and the entire process down to every test and launch. He took an innovative approach. Not just to furniture, but to ways of thinking about furniture. First and foremost, he had an exceptional understanding of materials and an eye for the potential of the wood and the quality of the raw materials he used. He often used teak and palisander in combination with real leather. To him, the most important thing was that the furniture should feel good. To the touch and when sitting in it. With all his chairs, his focus was on the person who was going to be sitting in them.
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Today he is called one of the most underrated – but most exciting – names on the Danish design scene. His furniture is sophisticated and well-proportioned with beautiful silhouettes and sculptural, organic lines and curves. Although he himself felt like an artisan – and he had no academic approach to furniture design – there is something poetic and artistic about his designs. At first glance, his furniture may seem simple, but at closer inspection it is full of detail. It is inventive and borders on engineering.
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To him, the most important thing was that the furniture should feel good. To the touch and when sitting in it. With all his chairs, his focus was on the person who was going to be sitting in them.
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The Knitting lounge chair
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The Knitting Lounge Chair
Ib Kofod-Larsen’s Knitting Lounge Chair was first launched as a limited edition in 1951. It is meticulously handcrafted in Sweden by skilled artisans, merging traditional craftsmanship techniques with modern technology to create an unforgettable and timeless design of the highest quality. The chair’s sense of proportion and unparalleled quality makes it a natural choice to bring into contemporary interiors. Named for the elbow cut-outs that allow maximum comfort while knitting (or reading), the chair is clearly the work of a master designer.
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Named for the elbow cut-outs that allow maximum comfort while knitting (or reading), the chair is clearly the work of a master designer.
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Audo Copenhagen - Icons Collection
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The Icons collection includes many other beautiful designs and all are available to order. Contact us for more details.
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Elizabeth Lounge Chair
Well-proportioned and well designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen, the Elizabeth Lounge Chair and Ottoman profiles a majestic elegance that underpins its royal name.
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Radiohus Sofa is an exclusive and rare design from Vilhelm Lauritzen, the Radiohus Sofa was designed for Denmark’s Radio House – today the Royal Danish Academy of Music – in 1936. A pioneering piece of Nordic Functionalism, the elegant design shunned the conservative and straight lines of the time in favour of a more futuristic expression. Beautiful from all angles, its curved lines and open construction welcome and embrace the sitter, while the quilted back highlights the exactness of its design. A piece of furniture that requires space, let it stand freely in a room.
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Jager Lounge Table An archival design from 1941, Mogens Lassen’s foldable Jäger Lounge Table is reissued to a modern audience. Its name comes from the merchant for which it was created, and its design is inspired by the folding stools and beds found in Tutankhamen's Egyptian tomb.
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Pagode Sofa As relevant today as ever thanks to its light, precise design language, the Pagode Sofa by Tove & Edvard Kindt-Larsen features beautifully crafted wooden legs, a low seat with distinctive armrests and a high back to cradle and support the body as it sits.
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My Own Chair Designed by Flemming Lassen in 1938, My Own Chair is an original and eye-catching piece of mid-century Danish modern design. Its supportive, rounded, angled seat and extended backrest cocoon the sitter in comfort. Wooden legs and expert upholstery complete the design. Said to be Lassen’s favourite chair, it stood at the designer’s home until his death in 1984.
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The Oda Chair was an ambitious design from the very beginning. Created by Arnold Madsen in around 1956, the aesthetic reinterpretation of an armchair has a complex horseshoe construction with an integrated headrest and beautifully incorporated armrests in wood. The Oda Chair profiles a sublime level of craftsmanship, evident in the intricacy of its upholstery.
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Audo Copenhagen is located at Audo House, a unique concept that tastefully unites a showroom, an exclusive residence, concept shop, event space, as well as a cafe and restaurant in a single, community-building universe.
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Audo House showcases Audo Copenhagen’s comprehensive range of furniture, lighting and accessories. It is a creative destination in its own right and an eclectic and inspiring hub for powerful ideas, beautiful design and inspiration.
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The Audo Concept Shop is a monobrand store that offers Audo Copenhagen furniture, lighting and interior objects. Step inside to discover the different moments of life through a series of inspiring and intimate spaces created to put in practice the everyday beauty and function of classic and contemporary design.
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The Audo Restaurant is a casual, all-day eatery that offers a selection of seasonal dishes made from local, organic ingredients. You can enjoy a freshly brewed coffee or a bite to eat, alone or in the company of likeminded individuals, in the thoughtfully furnished space.
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The Audo Residence is your home away from home. A place to unwind with all the comforts of home, surrounded by curated artworks, warm furnishings by Audo Copenhagen and thoughtful amenities.
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Anna Utzon
Director of Content and Styling
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WOMEN IN DESIGN
We support female designers and artists from all over the world. It's great to see so many female designers working for some of our favourite brands.
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HOUSE PRIDE
We celebrate Mardi Gras with all our design loving friends whether you're participating, watching the parade or simply partying with friends.
READ MORE >
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DID YOU MISS OUR INSPIRATION BOARD?
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The latest Sunday Inspiration | Muuto In Situ Sofa
The Muuto In Situ Sofa combines a modular design with effortless elegance. It invites cherished moments of relaxation and togetherness, epitomising a way of life that equally values practicality and floating elegance.
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