Vintage Danish Modern Oak daybed, Model G19 by Ejvind A. Johansson for FDB Møbler, Denmark, 1961
A Danish Mid-Century Daybed — Pure Form, Honest Oak, Enduring Craft
A daybed of rare restraint. Designed by Ejvind A. Johansson and produced by FDB Møbler in Denmark, this model G19 is dateable to June 1961 — confirmed by the original hexagonal FDB maker's stamp pressed into the frame
Defined by its clean architectural lines and quiet functionalism, the design showcases Johansson’s refined approach to everyday furniture — honest materials, thoughtful proportions and subtle sculptural details.
The G19 is built on the same principles that defined the best Danish furniture of the era: solid oak, honest joinery, nothing superfluous.
Unadorned — four gently tapered cylindrical legs supporting a clean rectangular platform, with the headboard and footboard fixed using original brass rivets that introduce a quiet material contrast without disturbing the overall austerity of the design. The gently raised side rails give the piece its signature lightness and ensure the mattress sits neatly within the frame. There is nothing here that does not need to be. It is furniture in the truest Scandinavian tradition: honest about its materials, precise in its construction, and entirely without pretension.
The bolster — tied simply with a fabric strap at the head end — is the one concession to informality, and it is a charming one. It anchors the piece visually, softens the silhouette, and confirms the daybed's dual character: equally suited to a considered living space as a resting place or reading perch.
This is a piece that works as well in a library or a study as it does in a bedroom — and that is precisely the point of the design.
Designer Profile — Ejvind A. Johansson (1923–2002)
Ejvind A. Johansson (1923–2002) headed the FDB design studio from 1956 to 1958, succeeding Børge Mogensen and Poul M. Volther. Trained first as a cabinetmaker, he went on to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1949, before becoming a pioneer of functional modernism who built directly upon Mogensen's straightforward design philosophy. Johansson aimed towards clear, distinctive and durable everyday design — an approach that is fully evident in the G19, where every decision serves the whole and nothing is ornamental for its own sake. His designs for FDB — including the G19 daybed, the J-series stools, and the Eye chair produced for Ivan Gern Møbelfabrik — reflect a designer who worked with deep respect for material and craft, producing pieces that have aged with quiet authority.
Maker Profile — FDB Møbler (Denmark)
FDB Møbler — the furniture division of the Danish consumer cooperative — was one of the defining institutions of Danish mid-century design. Founded on the principle that well-designed furniture should be accessible to ordinary households — and to achieve it, they combined the power of industrialised production with the skills of the country's foremost designers, gradually revolutionising the Danish furniture industry and making Danish modernism an international phenomenon.
FDB worked with some of the most significant designers of the era, including Børge Mogensen, Poul Volther, and Ejvind Johansson. Their pieces were produced to exacting standards, stamped and dated at the factory — a practice that makes authentic FDB pieces among the most precisely datable of the period.
The original FDB pieces from the studio's classic era — 1942 to 1967, when the design studio closed — are now among the most collected examples of Danish mid-century design. When FDB Møbler was relaunched in 2013, their inventory sold out within ten days — a measure of how strongly the market continues to respond to this body of work. An original stamped piece from 1961 is the real thing.
All Vintage Club pieces are carefully considered for authenticity, provenance, and condition before acquisition. Restoration is undertaken in-house to the highest standard.
Ejvind A. Johansson Oak Daybed, Model G19, for FDB Møbler, Denmark, 1961
Designer: Ejvind A. Johansson
Country: Denmark
Producer: FDB Møbler
Model: G19
Date: June 1961 (confirmed by manufacturer's stamp)
Materials: Solid oak frame, original brass rivets, newly upholstered
Dimensions: L 195 cm | D 80 cm | H 44 cm (seat height)
Legs are detachable for storage or convenient transport.
Marks: FDB hexagonal stamp — "Made in Denmark / 60 6 1" — present and legible
Condition & Restoration:
Presented in beautifully restored condition.
The solid oak frame has been fully refinished, showing an even tone and clear grain definition with only minor, expected signs of age preserved for authenticity. The slatted base is original and structurally sound. A new high-density foam mattress and bolster have been custom-made and upholstered in a premium textured performance textile chosen for both its quality and its quiet sage tone, which sits naturally against the warm oak. A stain resistant FibreGuard fabric from Home Fabrics, which has Stain Free Technology, assuring it will be able to stand up to everyday stains.Overall, the piece displays exceptionally well and is ready for everyday use. The original brass rivets are intact and present. As with all authentic mid-century pieces, gentle signs of age remain and are considered part of their character.
Photographed in natural light in our studio.
We photograph every piece honestly — what you see is what you'll receive. Before dispatch, each item is cleaned and finished with Osmo Polyx®-Oil so it arrives looking its best.
