Second hand

Press Information
November 2007

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.

Around Ravnsborgade in Nørrebro, an established community (ab. 35) of second hand/antique shops reflects the move towards more recent stock, mirroring the area's new found hip status as the new "Latin Quarter". Shops tend to specialise in a particular field, and the choice is limitless. Genuine bargains are rare though, with collectors and dealers regularly sieving the area. Over in Østerbro a similar set-up can be found in and around Nordre Frihavnsgade.

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, Klassisk and IQ Light (at Bald & Bang)share a penchant for 50s, 60s and 70s furniture and style, while København K and Kitsch Bitch offer a selective but eclectic selection of quality retro clothes.

Roxy Klassik is specialised 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 showrooms in Copenhagen sell furniture, lighting, carpets and 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 the Hotel Alexandra, where some rooms have been furnished with the work of Arne Jacobsen, Ole Wanscher, Hans J. Wegner and Finn Juhl.

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.

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, home to another cluster of antique shops. Sølvkælderen's Silverware, Antik & Kunst's porcelain and china, Inuit Gallerie's fascinating collection of Greenlander artifacts and Pinnau Antik’s books, prints and comics are all collectors’ havens.

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.

Georg Jensen Antiques www.georgjensen.com 6, Amagertorv DK-1160 København K Tel: +45 33 14 02 29 Silverware	Hotel Alexandra*** www.hotel-alexandra.dk (Furnished with Danish design classics) 8, H. C. Andersen Boulevard Tel.: +45 33 14 22 00
Flea Markets:
Frederiksberg Flea Market Parking lot behind the Town Hall DK-2000 Frederiksberg Tel: +45 38 19 21 21 Ex. 4016 Sat 8am-2pm (April-October)	Israels Plads Flea Market www.antikringen.dk DK-1165 København K Tel: +45 44 99 41 11 Sat 8am-2pm (May-October)
Gammel Strand Flea Market DK-1208 København K Tel: +45 35 26 19 21 Fri 9am-6pm (May-September) Sat 9am-3pm " "	Kongens Nytorv www.kr1981.dk (Danish design) Tel.: 32 50 41 67 Sat 10am-5pm (Maj-October)
Antiques shops:
Antique and second hand shops at the following addresses: Kompagnistræde #1, 7, 10 (vintage watches), 21 and 25 (books, prints, comics) Læderstræde # 9 & 15 (books),11a (silver), 11b (porcelain) and 13 Ravnsborggade has its own web: www.ravnsborggade.dk
Bredgade in the financial district:
Antik & Arts www.raabjerg.com 47, Bredgade Tel.: +45 33 13 05 00 Specialises in Silver	Antique Moderne 36A, Bredgade DK-1260 København K Tel.: +45 33 32 63 90
Dansk Møbelkunst www.dmk.dk (Scan. Modern Design) 32, Bredgade Tel.: +45 33 32 38 37	Klassisk (Scan. Modern Design, 50th-60th) 3, Bredgade DK-1111 København K Tel.: +45 33 33 90 60
Permanent Design (Danish design) 34, Bredgade DK-1260 København K Tel.: +45 33 15 13 50	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
Others
Bald & Bang (IQ Light) www.bald-bang.com (Design lamps from 1972) 7, Rømersgade Tel.: +45 33 36 07 76	Bald & Bang (IQ Light) www.bald-bang.com (Design lamps from 1972) 7, Rømersgade Tel.: +45 33 36 07 76
De Ville (Design & kitch/50th-60th) 60, Nansensgade Tel.: +45 28 14 18 14	Mads Lang 9, Landemærket Tel.: +45 32 96 42 24
Green Square (Amager) www.greensquare.dk 11 B, Strandlodsvej Tel.: +45 32 57 59 59	Roxy Klassik www.roxyklassik.dk 4, Fælledvej, (District of Nørrebro) Tel.: +45 31 16 64 70
Second Hand 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
KK Vintage (Clothes) www.kkvintage.dk 31 Blaagaardsgade C Tel.: +45 33 33 85 70	Fisk (Clothes) 1, Skt. Pederstræde Tel.: +45 33 15 28 01
Ca Roule Ma Poule (luxury vintage clothing) 7, Silkegade Tel.: +45 33 93 70 33	The Second Way 15, Studiestræde DK-1055 Købehavn K Tel.: 33 93 99 50
Kost & Mask 3, Tordenskjoldsgade DK-1055 København K Tel.: +45 33 69 69 79	Loppeshoppen 1 Sdr. Fasanvej Tel.: +45 38 34 39 27
Auction Houses
Bruun Rasmussen Auction House www.bruun-rasmussen.dk (Fine Art) 33, Bredgade Tel: +45 33 13 69 11 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm	Bruun Rasmussen - Harbour www.bruun-rasmussen.dk (Mostly second hand) Pakhusvej 12 Tel.: +45 70 27 60 80 Last Sat-Sun-Mon each month
Ellekilde Auction House www.ellekilde.dk 25, Bredgade Tel.: +45 33 91 11 21 Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm	Crafoord Auktioner www.crafoords.dk 3, Bredgade Tel.: + 45 33 77 11 77 Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
Thomas Høiland Auktioner www.thauctions.com 37, Lygten Tel.: +45 33 86 24 24	Lauritz.com Showroom www.lauritz.com 10, Bredgade Tel.: +45 44 50 98 00 Mon-Fri noon-6pm