Model FD 596 Teak Coffee Table by Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard Nielsen for France and Son

Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen FD596 Teak Coffee Table for France & Son, Denmark, 1960s

The table will be fully restored in our workshop. The teak frame and top will be carefully stripped back, cleaned and re-oiled to bring out the depth, warmth and natural grain of the timber while retaining the character of the original piece.

We will deliver this once the matching sofa is fully restored. Approximately 2 weeks from receiving the fabric.

The FD596 was designed as part of the same family of furniture as the matching sofa and armchairs, with the same elegant construction and distinctive sled style base. Its proportions are beautifully balanced, and the simplicity of the form allows the quality of the timber and joinery to really stand out.

Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen were among the most important figures in post-war Danish design. They began working together in the 1940s and developed a long-running partnership built around elegant, practical furniture and an exceptional understanding of timber construction.

Their work is known for its lightness and clarity, with refined proportions, beautifully resolved frames and very little unnecessary decoration. They were also interested in making furniture easier to manufacture and transport, which gave many of their designs a particularly modern feel for the period.

Much of their best known furniture was produced by France & Son, one of Denmark’s leading mid century manufacturers, and pieces from this period have become increasingly sought after.

The FD596 coffee table is a particularly good example of their approach - restrained, beautifully made and sculptural without ever feeling over-designed.