France & Søn

France & Søn (later known as France & Daverkosen) was a Danish furniture manufacturer founded in 1936 in Horsens, Denmark. The company became one of the most important producers of Danish modern furniture during the mid-20th century and played a significant role in bringing Scandinavian design to an international audience, particularly in Europe and the United States.

France & Søn specialized in high-quality wooden furniture, especially seating, tables, and storage pieces made primarily from teak, rosewood, and oak. The company is closely associated with some of the leading designers of the Danish modern movement, including Finn Juhl, Grete Jalk, Ole Wanscher, and Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen. Many of these designs emphasized light construction, elegant joinery, and organic forms.

Among the best-known pieces produced by France & Søn are Finn Juhl’s Model 45 and Model 48 chairs, as well as iconic designs by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, such as the FD series of chairs and sofas. France & Søn was particularly successful in exporting furniture, helping establish Danish modern design as a global benchmark for quality, craftsmanship, and refined simplicity.

The company ceased production in the late 1960s, but its furniture remains highly valued today. Original France & Søn pieces are regarded as classics of Danish modernism, admired for their craftsmanship, timeless aesthetics, and their important place in 20th-century design history.