40 Years of Passion for Upholstery
In 1984, Birthe Mona Jensen was 18 years old when she started an internship at a furniture workshop in Svendborg, Denmark. She had no idea that this would become the beginning of a career spanning more than four decades.
Today, Birthe is one of the most experienced upholsterers at Fredericia’s workshop. Over the years, she has worked on some of the company’s most recognisable designs, from Poul M. Volther’s Corona Chair to Børge Mogensen’s Søborg Chair and Erik Ole Jørgensen’s EJ315 sofa.
Upholstery is a craft learned through practice. It is about understanding how a material behaves, knowing when a seam needs adjusting, and developing the precision to repeat a technique until it becomes instinctive. After 40 years, much of that knowledge has become second nature to Birthe. Yet every piece still requires a thorough understanding of its construction, materials and proportions.
We spoke to Birthe about how she found her way into upholstery, the pieces she has come to know inside out, and what it takes to master a craft over a lifetime.
From apprentice to master
“In 1984, at the age of 18, I started working in upholstery – almost by chance. My husband worked in furniture production under Erik Jørgensen in Svendborg, and through him, I was offered the opportunity to do an internship. That internship quickly turned into a full-time job as I discovered my passion for creating something from scratch.
Most people don’t realise just how much work goes into making a piece of furniture from start to finish. There is the craftsmanship, the precision and the sheer number of steps, from cutting leather and textiles to applying glue, stitching seams and assembling the different elements. Every stage requires care, but it’s also what makes the process so rewarding.
The first piece I worked on was the EJ50 sofa, with its moulded cushions in a sand-coloured fabric. I still remember looking at it and thinking, “I’ll never learn how to upholster something like this.” With time, however, the techniques became second nature. Eventually, I could do things almost without thinking.”
A Craft Built Through Repetition
“Of all the pieces I’ve worked on over the years, the Corona Chair by Poul M. Volther is still the piece I’m most proud of and I still enjoy upholstering it.
It is always a challenge because the technique varies depending on the material. Fabric and leather behave differently, and softer or more elastic materials require different approaches. That complexity is what makes the work so interesting.
Another favourite of mine is the EJ315 sofa by Erik Ole Jørgensen. Its button detailing requires precision, and when it is upholstered in striped fabric, even more care is needed to ensure everything aligns. It is a demanding piece, but that is also what makes it rewarding.
After 40 years, many of these techniques have become second nature. It is only when I teach new upholsterers that I really notice how complex the craft is. There are many layers, methods and details to master, and much of that knowledge comes through repetition.
Upholstering a Corona Chair in leather, for example, can take up to six months to master. I am the only one who can upholster the chair at a certain speed. There are others who can do it, but they take three or four times as long.
My work is wonderfully varied. I upholster everything from Børge Mogensen’s Søborg Chair to his sofas, and I also lend a hand in the sewing room. Each design calls for different techniques and materials. Even after 40 years, there is always something new to work on.
My personal record is upholstering 41 Corona Chairs and 19 Corona Ottomans in just three weeks. After a period like that, I appreciate returning to other designs and working at a different pace. The flexibility of the workshop is something I value.
Even during my summer holiday, I find my fingers itching to get back to work. I’m incredibly fortunate to have turned my passion into a career and to have spent four decades practising a craft I am proud of.”
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