Peder Moos' Museum Table and Private Letters up for Auction

At this autumn's international design auction in Copenhagen, we can present the Danish cabinetmaker and designer Peder Moos' "Museum Table", which only exists in very few copies. It was commissioned by the Dane Gert Poulsen, who has also kept a unique series of letters from Moos, which were written during the production of the table.

"... It is becoming a table - so if there is a little money to spare, the table will much appreciate it. Sincerely, Peder Moos." This is how Moos begins his correspondence with Gert Poulsen on 3 April 1968. The “Museum Table” is taking shape and the uncompromising cabinetmaker needs money to finance the work with its design. The correspondence stretches across six months, during which time Moos describes his affection for the table with great empathy, since it during the process becomes a bit of a "sacred place" for him. He also describes how the table should be treated, with the use of paper towels, fine wood wool and cold water, which is probably the reason why the table appears in such fine condition today.

It was a time-consuming and expensive process to make the table. Peder Moos has quite a hard time just stating the price for Gert Poulsen in a letter from 30 August 1968: ”This should be read at the very end – either sitting or lying down and with the finest medical remedies within reach ... The table costs DKK 6,000 – if only I knew how painful this is.” Today, the very same “Museum Table” is estimated at DKK 300,000-400,000.

The Finest Cabinetmaker of Them All

Peder Moos (1906-1991) is one of the most original and uncompromising designers within Danish furniture design. He focused on the detail as a decorative element and on an exclusive design. No one could match his ability in highlighting the organic and living quality of wood.Given the contemporary times of Moos, where machines were truly moving into the workplace of carpenters, he should be regarded as something of an anachronism. Moos maintained many of the old traditions of craftsmanship and often pieced together his furniture with only the use of wooden dowels, which he made a point of emphasizing in the design, rather than hiding them, as can be seen in the furniture piece offered here.

The “Museum Table” was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild exhibition at the Designmuseum Danmark in 1942. The same model was subsequently exhibited at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm (1943) and Nordenfjelske Kunstindustrimuseum in Trondheim (1952). The table was only made in very few copies for private ownership.

Catalogue Description

Peder Moos: "Museum Table". Rare coffee table made of solid Brazilian rosewood with numerous inlays of boxwood. Top with monogram. Signed 1968 as well as where the model has been exhibited in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Trondheim. Produced in 1968 by cabinetmaker Peder Moos. H. 57. L. 70,5. B. 52,5 cm. Estimate: DKK 300,000-400,000.

Preview & Auction

Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers, Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen

Preview: 15-19 September

Auction: 20-29 September

Some of the auction highlights will be exhibited at Drouot in Paris from 12-13 September.