Alfred Christensen, co-owner and chief designer of Slagelse Møbelværk, was a pivotal figure in the Danish furniture industry during the 1940s and 1950s. He was both a manufacturer and a talented artist—a rare combination in the Danish furniture scene of that era. It was largely due to his natural flair for design and his keen eye for trends that the company rose to prominence in Danish mid-century furniture production and achieved global success.
Alfred Christensen was born into a family of craftsmen. His father, H.P. Christensen, was a furniture maker who encouraged his sons to follow in his footsteps. While Aage and Ejner Christensen led Sorø Stolefabrik to international fame, Alfred, together with his younger brother Erik, established Slagelse Møbelværk in 1931. Erik oversaw the workshop and business operations, while Alfred managed the design department and the machine shop—a role that perfectly suited the level-headed and creative cabinetmaker.
As chief designer, Alfred was responsible for the factory's furniture designs from the outset. Although his early designs exhibited classical influences, he later skillfully navigated the evolving landscape of modernism. A self-taught designer, he sometimes drew inspiration from the greats but always approached his designs with a playful reinterpretation. His 185 sofa, for instance, demonstrates his ability to capture a classic 1940s form while adding his personal touch.
From the late 1940s, Alfred Christensen increasingly commissioned renowned architects to design modern product lines for the teak era of Danish Modernism. He focused more on managing the expanding company but continued to design occasionally. Even at the age of 70, he created the Boomerang chair, which remains one of Slagelse Møbelværk's most iconic pieces. In January 1962, Alfred Christensen died as a result of a car accident.
