Clam Chairs

The “Clam” pair of chairs is considered to be one of the most attractive of “Nordic Design”. Designed by Arnold Madsen in 1944 in Copenhagen, it has an organic shape with soft curves, club-shaped beech legs and round armrests. Its name comes from the seat and backrest which form the silhouette of an open clam, offering great comfort thanks to the inclination of the backrest and the elevation of the seat. Often misappropriated to Philip Arctander, the true origins of this iconic design belong to Madsen.

Arnold Madsen (1907-1989) was a Danish designer, famous for his classic furniture designs. Born in northern Jutland, he was a sailor and cowboy in Canada before returning to Denmark to become an upholsterer. In 1945, he co-founded Madsen & Schubell in Copenhagen, producing modernist furniture until 1965. With no formal training in design, he created elegant, comfortable models such as the Clam Chair and the Oda chair, often wrongly attributed to other designers.