Second hand

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Press feature
July 2010

So new, it's retro - second hand chic in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has always been recognised as a major centre for antiques, but it's only recently that the city has seriously woken to the idea of modern classics, or retro chic. This has meant that a tremendous backlog of excellent material that has previously been hidden away in summerhouses, lofts and obscure junk shops is finally seeing the light. Shops specialising in 50s objet d'arts, 70s kitsch, retro clothes and collectibles are now thick on the ground and are often conveniently concentrated in particular neighbourhoods.

On Ravnsborgade in Nørrebro, there is an established community, of around 10 to 15 second hand/antique shops. There are also many small trendy shops in the area that have given it a newfound hip status as the "Latin Quarter".

Real bargains are far more likely to turn up at one of the city's flea markets, where junk rubs shoulders with the odd unrecognised gem. Frederiksberg and Israels Plads flea markets are less pricey than the market at Gammel Strand. But, Gammel Strand's ambience is unbeatable, with its canalside setting and open-air cafes.

For more serious collectors of modern Danish classics - like Poul Henningsen lamps, Arne Jacobsen chairs or Piet Hein tables - Dansk Møbelkunst and Permanent Design are veritable shrines to design. In the city, Klassik and IQ Light (at Bald & Bang) share a penchant for 50s, 60s and 70s furniture and style, while RetroSales.dk and Kitsch Bitch offer a selective but eclectic selection of quality retro clothes.

Roxy Klassik is specialized in mid-century design from architects such as Kaare Klint, Ole Wancher, Hans J Wegner, Finn Juhl and Arne Jacobsen to designers like Verner Panton, Charles & Ray Eames and Poul Henningsen. The showroom in Copenhagen sells furniture, lamps, ceramics as well as arts & crafts objects from the golden period of Scandinavian Design.

If you don't want to buy, but are tired of artificial fabrics and copy furniture, you could also spend the night at Hotel Alexandra. As a special homage to Danish design the Hotel Alexandra has furnished 11 retro design rooms with the work of architects Arne Jacobsen, Ole Wanscher, Hans J. Wegner, Børge Mogensen and Finn Juhl. Among Hotel Alexandra's many Danish retro design rooms is a Verner Panton room from 2010, room 222 that is equipped with several of his design icons. Hotel Alexandra has a total of 61 retro rooms, featuring 11 retro design rooms and 2 retro De Luxe rooms.

Bruun Rasmusen Auction House, internationally recognised for their fine art auctions, have been quick to exploit the new trend and now also run a monthly series of auctions just outside town in Kalkbrænderihavn, concentrating on more recent stock.

Discretely monitoring all the new action at a comfortable distance, Copenhagen's antique dealers and outlets are also thriving. A stroll down Bredgade reveals no less than 8 specialist shops including Antik & Arts who deal primarily in the design of Kay Bojesen and George Jensen. KLASSIK buys and sells original vintage furniture and design classics within the style known as Scandinavian Modern or Danish Modern. Specializing in lamps and lighting by Poul Henningsen (PH), and offering a wide selection of Arts and Crafts from 'The Golden Age' of Scandinavian design.

In the heart of the city, are Georg Jensen Antiques, on Amagertorv, with its impressive offerings of silverware.

Just a minute's walk from the bustle of Stroget lies peaceful Kompagnistræde, and Læderstræde home to another cluster of antique shops.

Vintage shop Carmen: big sister to Carmen & Fantasio, one of the Latin Quarter's oldest vintage shops with everything from funky rain coats to retro sun glasses, sells top class vintage and is the place where it's possible to discover a classic Yves Saint Laurent-blazer and other exclusive coups.

Major international auction houses, Christie's and Sotheby's and their Danish counterparts Bruun Rasmussen, and Ellekilde are appropriately congregated in the financial district of Bredgade.

On the island of Amager, where the airport i situated, is Green Square, Scandinavia's largest antiques warehouse. In nine halls with 10.000 sq.m. of displays you find Chinese antiques, Spanish Colonial Furniture, European antiques from 1600-1920 and Decorative items.

Flea Markets

Frederiksberg Flea Market
In the parking lot behind
Frederiksberg Town Hall
Saturday's April - Oktober

Israels Plads Flea Market
Central Copenhagen
Saturday's (mid April - Oct.)

Gammel Strand Flea Market
Gammel Strand
May - October
Friday's & Saturday's

Kongens Nytorv
(Danish design)
Saturday's (May-Okt.)

Ravnsborgade
www.ravnsborggade.dk 
Sunday Sept. 26 10.00 - 16.00
Sunday Nov. 21 10.00 - 16.00

 

Antique and second hand shops

Green Square (Amager)
www.greensquare.dk
11 B, Strandlodsvej
Tel.: +45 32 57 59 59

Bald & Bang (IQ Light)
www.bald-bang.com
(Design lamps from 1972)
7, Rømersgade
Tel.: +45 33 36 07 76

Roxy Klassik ( Nørrebro)
www.roxyklassik.dk
4, Fælledvej,
Tel.: +45 31 16 64 70

20th. Century Decorative Arts
28, Bredgade
DK-1260 København K
Tel.: +45 33 14 09 05

Dansk Møbelkunst
www.dmk.dk
32, Bredgade
Tel.: +45 33 3238 37

Klassik
www.klassik.dk
3, Bredgade
Tel.: +45 33 33 90 60

Georg Jensen Antiques
www.georgjensen.com
6, Amagertorv
DK-1160 København K
Tel: +45 33 14 02 29
Silverware

 

Second Hand & Vintage Clothes:

København K (clothes)
32B, Studiestræde
DK-1455 København K
Tel.: +45 33 73 15 19
Has also a shop at 4, Teglgårdstræde

Kitch Bitch (mainly cloths)
30, Læderstræde
DK-1201 København K
Tel.: +45 33 13 63 13

Lille Mollerup
31 C, Blaagaardsgade
Tel.: +45 33 33 85 70

Fisk (store & cafe' )
www.noedhjaelp.dk/i_danmark/fisk
1, Skt. Pederstræde
Tel.: +45 33 15 28 01

RetroSales.dk
www.retrosales.dk
47, Sankt Peders Stræde
Tel.: +45 33 16 00 61

The Second Way
15, Studiestræde
Tel.: +45 33 93 99 50

Carmen
7, Larsbjørnsstræde
Tel.: +45 33 14 30 36

RetroSales.dk
www.retrosales.dk
47, Sankt Peders Stræde

Carmen & Fantasio
11, Larsbjørnsstræde
Tel.: +45 33 14 30 36

KBH.K
32 B, Studiestræde
Tel.: +45 33 73 15 19

Auction Houses

Bruun Rasmussen Auction House
www.bruun-rasmussen.dk
(fine art)
33, Bredgade
Tel: +45 88 18 11 11

Bruun Rasmussen - Harbour
www.bruun-rasmussen.dk
(mostly second hand)
30, Sundkrogsgade
Tel.: +45 88 18 11 11

Ellekilde Auction House
www.ellekilde.dk
25, Bredgade
Tel.: +45 33 91 11 21

Lauritz.com Showroom
www.lauritz.com
10, Bredgade
Tel.: +45 44 50 98 00
Mon-Fri noon-6pm

 Others mentioned

 

Hotel Alexandra ***
www.hotel-alexandra.dk
(Danish design classics)
8, H.C. Andersens Boulevard
Tel.: +45 33 14 22 00