Designer
Illum Wikkelsø
Kristian Illum Wikkelsø (1919–1999) was a Danish furniture designer who belonged to the generation that made Danish furniture design known worldwide in the 1950s and 1960s. GUBI says he trained as a cabinetmaker and then studied at the…
Biography
Background
Kristian Illum Wikkelsø (1919–1999) was a Danish furniture designer who belonged to the generation that made Danish furniture design known worldwide in the 1950s and 1960s. GUBI says he trained as a cabinetmaker and then studied at the Copenhagen School of Arts & Crafts and at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' School of Furniture Design, headed by Kaare Klint. He opened his own design office in Aarhus in 1954.
Signature Style
GUBI describes a clear design aesthetic built on a deep understanding of materials, an innovative style that was often expressive and surprising, and a constant focus on craftsmanship and detail. GUBI says he aimed for furniture that holds the body comfortably and reflects the Danish landscape.
Notable Works
- The Croissant lounge chair and sofa, in GUBI's range as reissues of his designs
- The V11 lounge chair, which Wikipedia counts among his best-known designs
- A rocking chair
- The Plexus series for C. F. Christensen, named in Danish Wikipedia
Legacy
Manufacturers that produced his designs include N. Eilersen, Holger Christiansen, C. F. Christensen, Komfort/Dansk Form and Søren Willadsen Møbelfabrik. He died in 1999 and is buried in Aarhus.
