A Collection Born From A Single Seat

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In 2024, Stine Mikkelsen debuted the Semble bench as part of The Mindcraft Project. Sculpted from white ash, the conceptual piece turned heads with its bold reinterpretation of the wooden dowel, scaled up and brought to center stage. What began as a singular, sculptural moment has now evolved into Archetypes, a full-fledged furniture collection that explores what happens when a gallery piece steps out of the exhibition space and into the home.

Named after the foundational forms that shape domestic life, Archetypes includes a stool, a lamp, a bench, a shelf, and a mirror. Each piece celebrates honest materials – steel and timber – elevated through precise craftsmanship. While the forms feel familiar, their refined execution and unexpected details expand our understanding of what an “archetype” can be. “My goal for this exhibition has been to design products with an inherent quality that sparks curiosity,” says Mikkelsen. “A curiosity that makes your sense of sight feel insufficient to the point that you are naturally drawn closer to the works – inviting you to touch and interact with each piece.”

A close-up of a smooth, light wood bench with a rounded edge

A close-up of a smooth, light wood bench with a rounded edge

A simple wooden stool with four legs is placed in the corner of a room with light-colored walls and wooden flooring. Another stool is partially visible in the foreground

Two round, light wood nesting tables are stacked together against a plain, off-white wall

A light wooden stool with four legs is placed on a wooden floor against a white wall in a corner

Mikkelsen partnered with local steel and timber craftspeople to bring the series to life, embracing a collaborative process of sketching, prototyping, and refining. “There’s a willingness from both parties to say, ‘Shall we try this?’” she shares. “That openness leads to new production techniques, which in turn allow my work to take on new forms and elicit fresh emotions.”

Two minimalist wooden wall shelves, the lower shelf holding two small glass bowls, mounted on a light-colored wall

A light wood floating shelf is mounted on a plain beige wall, holding a small clear glass bowl

A minimalist wooden shelf is mounted on a light-colored wall, featuring simple, clean lines and a cylindrical vertical support

With Archetypes, Mikkelsen continues to blur the lines between art and design, pushing beyond conceptual objects into the world of lived-in spaces. Her approach remains rooted in material exploration and tactility – often beginning not with a finished object in mind, but with a curiosity about form. “I don’t know from the start whether I’m working on a chair, a lamp, or a shelf,” she admits.

And that’s exactly what keeps her work so compelling.

An elongated oval mirror with a metallic frame is mounted vertically on a light gray wall in a minimalistic interior space

A close-up of a tall, arched mirror reflecting two minimal wooden wall shelves against a plain, light-colored wall

A modern black metal table lamp with a geometric, conical design sits on a round, light-colored surface, casting soft light downward

A metallic, modern table lamp with a conical shade and base sits on a round white surface against a neutral wall

A modern, geometric black metal lamp sits on a round, white pedestal against a muted, minimalist background

A modern table lamp with a metallic finish, featuring geometric shapes and a cone-shaped base, sits on a white surface with its light switched on

A modern table lamp with a metallic finish, featuring geometric shapes and a cone-shaped base, sits on a white surface with its light switched on

A modern, geometric black metal lamp sits on a round, white pedestal against a muted, minimalist background

A person in a striped shirt stands in a woodshop, looking down at a large, unfinished wooden structure with panels and boards stacked in the background

Stine Mikkelsen \\\ Photo: Benjamin Lund

To learn more about the Archetypes collection by Stine Mikkelsen, visit stinemikkelsen.com.

Photography by Tommy Frost.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.





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