Niels Otto Møller (1920-1982) Danish, Set of 4 Rosewood and Cord Dining Chairs. Some discoloring and unwinding of the cord. Marked underneath. 

Condition: Commensurate with use. 

Size: 19 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 30 in. 

Niels Otto Laursen Møller was born on January 30th, 1920 in Aarhus, Denmark. He was the son of master carpenter Jens Laursen Møller, exposed to the tools and traditions of the trade from a very early age. He completed an apprenticeship in 1939 and enrolled in the Aarhus Technical School the following year. Together with Arne Hovman-Olsen he developed a sleek dining chair shape which quickly became a classic model for other Danish companies. In 1944 he founded JL Møllers Møbelfabrik A/S, for which he produced designs and managed production, soon attracting other Aarhus graduates to work with him. The company began exporting to both Germany and the United States in 1952, expanding their production facilities by acquiring 8 acres of land in nearby Højbjerg and building a dedicated factory on the property. Møller, ever the entrepreneur and innovator, designed a small working community around it that was one of the precursors of the Danish eco-housing and later eco-village movements. His sons Jens Ole and Jørgen Henrik, who both trained under him, joined the company and further expanded the community in 1972. From 1974 onward Japan became their largest market as they began to specialize in multi-purpose, lightweight, minimalist apartment decor. Their core dining room collection, though relatively small, was primarily made in rosewood or walnut, and frequently sold out as soon as pieces were available. After Møller’s death in 1982 his sons continued to run the company, and it is still family-owned today, although the community he originated has since been absorbed into the suburbs of Aarhus.

Commensurate with use.