Børge Mogensen

Spoke-Back Sofa, by Børge Mogensen, 1945 The clever part is the end: one side drops down on leather straps, as in the picture, turning a slim wooden sofa into a daybed. Even the cushions are tied on with visible straps. Designed in 1945, it did not go into production until 1963, and Fredericia still makes it. This is a sofa for reading and napping more than for a family pile-up. The open spindle back and thin cushions keep it light and narrow enough for a small flat, but it is firmer and more upright than modern upholstery, and the solid wood frame will outlast several covers. New ones are expensive; Danish secondhand examples are worth hunting.