Kaare Klint

Kaare Klint (1888–1954) is considered the father of modern Danish furniture design. With designs such as the Faaborg Chair, the Safari Chair and the Church Chair, he created timeless classics that combine tradition, function and simple elegance.

Kaare Klint (1888–1954)

Danish architect and furniture designer – the father of modern Danish furniture design

“Order creates the foundation for Beauty” – Kaare Klint

Kaare Klint is considered one of the most influential figures in Danish design history. As an architect, furniture designer, teacher and theorist, he laid the foundation for Danish Modern and influenced an entire generation of designers. His furniture is characterized by simplicity, proportions adapted to the human body and respect for classical models – combined with a new, modern functionalism.


Background and education

Kaare Klint was born in 1888 in Frederiksberg, the son of the architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen Klint. As a young man, he began at PS Krøyer's painting school and showed talent for the visual arts, but his father's influence drew him towards architecture. At the age of 16, he participated in the decoration of Copenhagen City Hall. He later qualified as an architect and received a solid education working in his father's design studio. Kaare Klint combined artistic flair with architectural discipline and laid the foundation for a career that united tradition and innovation.


Career and work

Klint had his breakthrough in 1914 when he designed the furnishings for the Faaborg Museum in collaboration with architect Carl Petersen. This is where the iconic Faaborg chair comes from, which became a benchmark for his work: function, proportion and simplicity. He continued with assignments such as furnishings for Thorvald Stauning's Prime Minister's Office, Thorvaldsen's Museum, the Glyptoteket and the David Collection. His furniture was often developed in close dialogue with the spaces for which it was created – a holistic approach that characterizes his design philosophy.

In 1924 he founded the School of Furniture Art at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he taught until his death in 1954. Here he developed a new approach to furniture art, based on careful studies of the human body, classical furniture types and the theory of proportion. Among his students we find later key figures such as Børge Mogensen, Mogens Koch, Ole Wanscher and Edvard Kindt-Larsen. His teaching and pedagogy made him the very birthplace of Danish Modern.

Kaare Klint's designs were influenced by English, Chinese and Southern European furniture, but always simplified and adapted to modern needs. He cut away superfluous details and sought the essential in form and function. His philosophy was that furniture should first and foremost serve the user – with beauty and order as the natural result.


Iconic furniture by Kaare Klint

Most of Kaare Klint's furniture is now considered a cornerstone of Danish design. With a unique understanding of proportion and function, Klint managed to combine classic craftsmanship with a modern simplicity that still characterizes today's furniture design.

  • The Faaborg Chair (1914) – designed for Faaborg Museum. A lightweight armchair in mahogany and wicker that combines classical inspiration with modern functionality.
  • The Safari Chair (1933) – inspired by English officers' chairs. Easy to assemble, transport and still an international design icon.
  • The Church Chair (1936) – simple, stackable chair in oak and paper yarn. Designed for Bethlehem Church & Grundtvig's Church in Copenhagen and later used in many churches.
  • The Red Chair (1927) – exclusive upholstered chair in mahogany and leather, designed for Thorvald Stauning's office.
  • The Bergere chair – a comfortable armchair with clear inspiration from French models, but refined in a Nordic design language.
  • Smoking table (6687) – small coffee table with functional details, created to be practical in everyday life, but still elegant in proportions.
  • KK 4118 Sofa – classic 2- or 3-seater sofa with tight upholstery and clean lines, which makes it timeless in modern interiors.
  • KK 5011 Sofa – a functional and elegant sofa in wood and upholstery that reflects Klint's sense of comfort and simplicity.
  • KK 6062 Sofa – spacious and robust sofa with classic proportions and great usability.
  • KK 5313 – series of sofas and armchairs with well-balanced proportions, created for public and private interiors.
  • The Earflap Chair – an elegant armchair with a classic earflap silhouette, adapted to Klint's functionalist approach.
  • The Propeller Stool – iconic stool, where the construction with crossed legs (the "propeller" shape) makes it both light and stable.
  • The Addition Sofa (1933) – a modular sofa system that could be adapted to space and needs. Ahead of its time and an important part of Klint's functionalist thinking.
  • MIX Chair – a chair with a harmonious combination of classic and modern, simple in form and high in comfort. Designed by Edvard Kindt-Larsen.


Producers and collaboration

  • Rud. Rasmussen – Klint's most important collaborator, who produced, among other things, the Faaborg chair, the Safari chair and many of his classic bookcases, sofas and tables.
  • NC Jensen Kjær – Cabinets and shelves in noble woods with a focus on simplicity and quality.
  • Fritz Hansen – Production of, among other things, the Church Chair from 1936 for churches and public spaces.
  • NM Rasmussen – Early works, including a chest of drawers and bed from 1917.
  • Otto Meyer – Produced furniture for his own home designed by Kaare Klint.


Legacy and legacy

Kaare Klint died in 1954, but his influence lives on in Danish and international design. He was not only a furniture architect, but also a teacher and theorist who set the standard for functionalism and the human scale in furniture design. His students – including Børge Mogensen , Mogens Koch and Ole Wanscher – continued his ideas and brought them to the world. Klint's furniture is still produced today and stands as timeless symbols of simplicity, function and beauty.


Experience Kaare Klint's original furniture at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK you will find a large selection of original Kaare Klint furniture – such as the Faaborg chair, the Safari chair and the Kirke chair – all carefully selected for their authenticity and quality.

If you can't find the exact piece of furniture you're looking for, we're happy to help. Contact us at support@klassik.dk or call 33 33 90 60 – or visit us at Bredgade 3, Copenhagen.