A Story Rooted in Place, Craft, and Denmark’s Cultural Heritage
RODFÆSTET emerged from a desire to document the unique artistry of Danish cabinetmaking. The project was initiated at the historic Rud. Rasmussen carpentry workshop in Nørrebro, Copenhagen—an institution that operated at the same address for an extraordinary 142 years. Written by design author Thomas Dickson and master joiner Jørgen Rud Rasmussen, the book offers an affectionate portrait of a company whose identity is inseparable from Danish furniture culture.
Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier became renowned for producing furniture by Kaare Klint and Mogens Koch, two of Denmark’s most influential designers. Beyond these iconic collaborations, the workshop created a vast range of bespoke interiors and commissions for clients across Denmark and abroad. Its craft excellence was shaped by close partnerships with architects, carpenters, apprentices, skilled cabinetmakers, and upholsterers—relationships that defined the workshop’s uncompromising standards.
At a time when quality and attention to detail are increasingly valued, the book narrates the story of a company that steadfastly chose to remain a traditional carpentry workshop rather than shifting toward industrial production. In 2011, after careful consideration, the family decided to sell the company to Carl Hansen & Søn. Production was later relocated to Funen in 2016.
Photographer Kim Ahm captures the atmosphere, materials, and meticulous workflows inside the workshop at Nørrebrogade 45, providing a rich visual documentation of the craft and environment that shaped generations of Danish furniture.
The book stands as a tribute to a legacy of craftsmanship deeply rooted in Denmark’s cultural heritage.
About
Author
Thomas Dickson and Jørgen Rud Rasmussen
Publisher
RR Forlag
Size
23 × 23 cm (136 pages)
Contents
Foreword — p.7
Chapter 1: Seeds Are Sown — p.9
Chapter 2: Sprouting and Growing — p.31
Chapter 3: Taking Deep Root — p.43
Chapter 4: At the Core — The Workshop and Its Craftsmen — p.61
Chapter 5: The Quality of Wood — p.93
Chapter 6: New Sources of Nourishment — p.107
Chapter 7: Everything Has Its Time — Even Wood — p.121