On several occasions in this column, I've mentioned the golden age of Danish design in the 50s and 60s: a generation of highly gifted designers combined with the existence of a network of very active national manufacturers, some of which still exist today, such as Fritz Hansen or Fredericia Furniture. Among these, the manufacturer Omann Jun. is a textbook case: a family business that for decades produced furniture representative of Danish design, in which design remains a family affair, even if the name Gunni Omann is often mentioned. This post traces the industrial adventure of this furniture manufacturer.
The Omann Jun. family saga began in 1919, when Niels Omann founded the furniture manufacturer Ølholm Møbelfabrik in Ølholm, a town in the Danish region of Midtjylland that belongs to the municipality of Hedensted, some 191 km west of the capital Copenhagen. 14 years later, his youngest son, Andreas Omann, in turn founded the Omann Jun. company, still in Ølholm. In the early days, Andreas specialized his company's production in beds and tables.
In the 1930s, Andreas and Sigfred Omann, 2 of Niels Omann's sons ran Ølholm Mobelfabrik. It was at this time that Andreas launched his own company, Omann Jun. (short for Omann Junior) and decided to combine the offices of the 2 companies and share the carpenters' machinery. When Niels Omann died in 1935, Sigfred took over the management of Møbelfabrik. The 2 furniture manufacturing companies expand, shipping custom-made furniture every day.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Andreas Omann's 2 children, Gunni and Bjarne, take part in Omann Jun.'s decisions and make history by expanding production to include sideboards, enfilades, coffee tables, desks and desk sets. It was a wise choice that made the family business famous. A decision that coincided with the development of a powerful furniture industry in Denmark.
From the 50s to the 70s, Omann Jun. was one of the successful Danish manufacturers and editors exporting made in Denmark and a certain idea of design. At the time, Danish design was characterized by high-quality, inexpensive wooden furniture with rectilinear shapes and no excessive decoration or ornamentation. The furniture designed was intended to be practical and useful: function took precedence over form, but the fact remained that Danish designers had a sense of purity that enabled them to create furniture that was authentic, welcoming and elegant. How about this magnificent teak dressing table designed by Arne Vodder for Ølholm Møbelfabrik in the 1950s?
What characterizes the furniture pieces designed and conceived at Omann Jun.? A typically Scandinavian love of woodworking, but also pieces with impeccable finishes for a high-end positioning. The furniture that emerges from Ølholm's workshops is aesthetically very successful: clean lines, refined elegance, a certain lightness and organic details characterize the production of Omann Jun. and Ølholm Møbelfabrik.
At the heart of this family production, Gunni Omann stands out for his undeniable talent for conceiving elegant design. He conceived a series of seductively designed sideboards, enfilades and desks that are sought after by collectors today. In addition to teak, Gunni Omann uses rich, beautifully grained rosewood for his most luxurious pieces. This expertise led Omann Jun. to export its furniture at the height of the golden age of Danish design, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Gunni Omann handles sales for the American market, while Bjarne looks after the European market.
Among the great classics designed and executed in the family business, 3 models stand out. They are the Model 18 Buffet, the Model 75 Executive Desk and the Model 100 Coffee Table. Originally produced between 1953 and 1970, the Model 100 Coffee Table was relaunched in 2017 for a new generation of design enthusiasts. Made from oak, the Model 100 offers clean, angular lines that fit ideally into a modern interior.
In 1979, Gunni and Bjarne Omann, Andreas Omann's 2 sons fully managed the company. 11 years later, Gunni handed over his company shares to his brother Bjarne, who shifted the company to the production of office furniture. Since 2005, Ulrich Omann has been at the helm of the company (3rd generation), reissuing on request the classic models that have made the company's reputation. In 2013, the company moved to new, more modern premises in Horsens.
François BOUTARD
