No. 1 Sofa

Overview

The No. 1 Sofa, 3 seater, 206 cm (Model 2003) is a fully upholstered sofa designed by Børge Mogensen in 1955. Fredericia's drawing gives 206 cm wide, 86 cm deep, 83 cm high with a 42 cm seat height, and the sheet gives 54 kg.

Image source: Fredericia — No. 1 Sofa · © Fredericia and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Construction

The sofa has separate seat and back cushions on an inner frame of solid wood and plywood. The cushions are HR or CMHR foam covered in fabric, mounted with buttons and interchangeable; the back cushions are reversible, with fabric on both sides. The solid wood legs are interchangeable and fixed with metal threads, and the covers are non-removable.

Specifications

• Covers: fabric only, 161 fabrics on the page
• Legs: five oak options marked FSC Mix 70%, from soap treated and oiled to smoked oak and black lacquer
• Consumption: 8.3 m fabric
• Weight: 54 kg

The first sofa for Fredericia

Fredericia says the No. 1 Sofa was the first sofa series that Mogensen designed for the company and that it marked the start of a close collaboration. The page dates it to 1955 and says it began Mogensen's work with Fredericia as house designer.

Image source: Fredericia — No. 1 Sofa · © Fredericia and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Structure and softness

The page describes a tightly upholstered wooden frame softened by loose, interchangeable buttoned cushions, and says the sofa introduced many of the principles that would define Mogensen's later work. At its introduction, according to the page, it represented a new direction in Danish furniture design, with a modern silhouette and a fresh interpretation of the traditional sofa.