The Myth of Phaëton

Poul Henningsen's Japanese-inspired dining-room furniture was originally created for his sister-in-law in Aalborg, but was later included in a larger work, which was exhibited in the Artists' Autumn Exhibition artists at Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art in 1921. That year it was decided to divide the exhibition area into a number of smaller spaces, or pavilions, in which an architect would collaborate with an artist to create a concept of the ideal room. One of these partnerships consisted of Poul Henningsen and Axel Salto. As already mentioned, PH contributed this set of dining-room furniture, while Salto painted eight large murals and four ceiling paintings, which narrated the Greek myth of Phaëton, who came to a sticky end, when he borrowed his father's sun chariot and drove up into the sun. After the exhibition, the panels and furniture were put into storage, but ended up in the dining room of Poul Henningsen's sister-in-law, until in 1972 they were given to Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum (now KUNSTEN) as an inaugural gift.