“A journalist once asked Mads what he wanted to achieve in life, as a designer and he said, that he would like to plant a forest, so that he could give some trees back, for all the trees he had used to make furniture.”

- Mads' partner Sara. 

As some of you maybe aware our dear friend Mads Johansen sadly passed away last month after a battle with motor neuron disease, Mads was in the prime of his life and we are very privileged to be able to continue his legacy with his world famous Johansen table at Great Dane.

As Mads' illness progressed, Mads and his family talked about what was important for him in both in his life and death. It was quite simply to plant a little forest to thank the trees for all that it had provided him. Mads grew up in a small village called Hammel and played in the nearby Frijsenborg Forest as a child.  Mads and his parents contacted the Baron and forest owner and explained the dream.  The Baron agreed and personally selected an area of land to plant the ‘little forest’ and see Mads' vision realised.

At Mads' funeral, his family and friends were asked to donate trees in lieu of flowers and plans are now in place to start planting in the Spring. 

GREAT DANE, AS A SIGN OF RESPECT FOR MADS’ WISHES WILL DONATE A TREE TO THE FOREST FOR EVERY JOHANSEN TABLE WE SELL IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

Our last meeting was in Copenhagen only months before his death. I’m sure he knew that we were unlikely to meet again.  When I returned from Copenhagen I received a delivery containing a group of wooden trays.  It is something I’ll always treasure.

- Anton Assaad