Henning Koppel

Henning Koppel: Sculptural Forms for Everyday Life

A defining figure in post-war Danish design is the Copenhagen-born designer, sculptor and graphic artist Henning Koppel (1918–1981). His understanding of design was strongly influenced by his training as a sculptor: from a young age, he engaged intensively with three-dimensional forms and, during a study visit to the Académie Ranson in Paris in 1938, came into contact with the avant-garde movements in contemporary sculpture.

After the Second World War, in 1945, Koppel began his decades-long collaboration with Georg Jensen, for whom he primarily designed jewellery, cutlery and silverware. His work marked a clear departure from the naturalistic ornamentation of the early 20th century and the strictly geometric forms of the 1930s. Instead, Koppel favoured an organic, sculptural design that transformed everyday objects into works of art in their own right. His mirror-smooth silverwork, with its asymmetrical, curved lines, in particular, gained international renown. For his designs, he received, amongst other honours, several gold medals at the Milan Triennale as well as the Lunning Prize.

However, Koppel’s work extended far beyond the art of silversmithing. Among other things, he designed porcelain for Bing & Grøndahl, glass for Orrefors, and clocks and lamps for Louis Poulsen. In doing so, he applied his precise yet organic design language to a wide variety of materials and product categories. In the 1970s, his designs became increasingly minimalist and formal, without losing their sculptural character.

This is also evident in the HK21 Bubi table/floor lamp by Carl Hansen & Søn this fusion of function and sculptural design is evident. The design exemplifies Koppel’s aim to define everyday objects not solely by their function, but also by their form and visual presence.