Erik Buch, a prominent Danish industrial designer, was born in 1923 in Copenhagen. Specializing in the Scandinavian modern style, Buch’s design philosophy centered around creating furniture that was both organic and functional. His portfolio included a wide range of pieces, such as chairs, stools, and cabinets. Like many of his Danish contemporaries, Buch skillfully combined materials like fabric and leather with beautifully grained woods like polished teak, oak, and rosewood.
Buch gained early recognition with his renowned Model 49 chair, introduced in 1949. Available in both carver and dining chair styles, this iconic piece featured a curved “floating” seat and embodied the classic Scandinavian modern aesthetic. Arguably Buch’s most famous design, the Model 61 barstool (1961) boasted a distinct Scandinavian base with elegantly sculpted lines. Interestingly, several of Buch’s designs were named after the year they were conceived, particularly those manufactured by the cabinetmaker and furniture company Oddense Maskinsnedkeri. The company later changed its name to O.D. Møbler in the late 1960s or early 1970s, a detail reflected in the labels of subsequent Model 61 productions.
Among Buch’s notable creations are the Captain’s Chair (1955) designed for Ørum Møbler, the Model 310 dining chair crafted for Chr. Christiansen in the 1960s, and a rosewood bar stool with a distinctive T-shaped design for Dyrlund, also in the 1960s.
