Designed by the Danish architect-designer team Peter Hvidt (1916-86) and Orla Molgaard (1907-93) for France & Son, Denmark, the chairs stamped and labelled to the seat rails were originally purchased by the vendor’s family.
They showed signs of age with the lacquered brass legs a little loose and the timbers faded but sold at a top-estimate £2000 at the sale on July 27.
“Prices have fallen for some traditional furniture, but Mid-century modern, especially pieces by Scandinavian designers, remains a strong area of the market,” said auctioneer Andrew Ewbank.
The four top examples at the Surrey sale were shared among specialist dealers from the south-west of England, the Home Counties and the Midlands.
Other popular Danish forms included an Ib Kofod-Larsen (1921-2003) rosewood sideboard, Model 66, for Faarup Mobelfabrik, at £1800, and a set of 10 Niels Moller teak and rush-seated dining chairs, model 75, at £1400.
Best of the British Midcentury material was an Ercol light elm Giraffe room divider bookcase which doubled the lower estimate in selling online at £800.