Episode 11
Axel Salto
Object (c. 1940s)
Axel Salto is one of Denmark’s most renowned artists. He spent many years with Royal Copenhagen, excelling in ceramics, graphic design, as well as printmaking and textiles. The Oda Collection holds around 20 of his works, and this small vessel is the latest addition to the collection.
It arrived just last week, sent by Mr. T, a painter and business owner who had graciously invited me to his home for a meal not long before. When I opened the package, I found a letter, a painting of my garden by Mr. T, and a small object, all nestled in beautifully crafted custom paulownia wood boxes. The box for the object was octagonal, with its grain perfectly aligned between the lid and body, making it a work of art in itself. The object inside was a piece by my favorite ceramic artists, Axel Salto – a small vessel about 65mm in diameter and 50mm high. Its beauty struck me at once, and I thought, this must be cherished. It immediately became a treasured possession. The painting, I later realized, was based on a photo Mr. T must have taken during his visit to my home. It was exquisitely framed and fit perfectly in its custom box, wrapped in a luxurious furoshiki made of Tango chirimen silk. The letter was equally thoughtful – Mr. T had illustrated scenes from the dinner at his home, using a different style from the garden painting, and expressed his gratitude for my visit.
It wasn’t just the gift itself, but the care and thought in its presentation that moved me deeply. At my age, I’ve come to appreciate the essence of gift-giving: it’s truly about conveying heartfelt emotions. In contrast, my own thanks to Mr. T – sending melons and rice directly from a store, without even a note – felt embarrassingly impersonal. I couldn’t help but feel a bit ashamed. This experience reminded me of the profound meaning behind giving; it’s not just the item, but the sentiment behind it that matters.
Two years ago, at the request of the Danish Embassy, I held a seminar on Finn Juhl at the Embassy residence in Daikanyama, Tokyo. During the seminar, a man with a young child, around elementary school age, was sitting in the front row. He was dressed casually in a T-shirt and shorts, which made a strong impression on me. I had heard from the embassy staff about an amazing cafe nearby, one that was entirely decorated with Danish furniture and furnishings. For some reason, I had an intuitive feeling that this man was the owner of that cafe.
Later, I visited the cafe on my own. Upon entering, just as I had been told, I was greeted by a spacious interior filled with vintage Danish furniture from the 1930s. The lighting was all masterpieces as well. At the tables, there were armchairs by Kaare Klint, while the walls were lined with multiple cabinets by Mogens Koch, and toys by Kay Bojesen were displayed - each piece was a museum-quality item. Yet, customers were casually using them. I couldn’t help but think, What a waste! (laughs). After all, it was a cafe, so accidents like spilling coffee or dropping and breaking something could easily happen. I found myself feeling anxious on their behalf.
I asked the staff if I could meet the owner and have a conversation. Shortly after, the owner arrived on his motorcycle, dressed as casually as before, in a T-shirt and shorts. When I mentioned that he had attended the seminar, he smiled and said, "Yes." That was my first conversation with Mr. T.
We ended up having tea together and talking for a while. Mr. T had learned about me through my book Danish Chairs (Korinsha Publishing) and had attended the seminar because of it. That day, we said our goodbyes with the promise, "I'll visit again if I'm in Tokyo." The following year, we reunited when Mr. T came to my home.
The Finn Juhl Seminar “Chair Talk” at the Danish Embassy Residence in October 2022.
At the study groups I regularly held in Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido—Chair Talk and Design School—there were always lively women who traveled from Tokyo, Kansai, and Tohoku to attend. They were primarily interior coordinators, and I welcomed them with gratitude, calling them the "Noisy Sisters." And then there is the male counterpart group, the "Noisy Brothers" (laughs). This group consists of some very strong personalities, and the one I jokingly call the eldest brother is Mr. K, who runs a vintage shop in Ginza, Tokyo. Originally an antique dealer, Mr. K, like Mr. T, was inspired by my book Danish Chairs and became fascinated with vintage items, eventually transforming his shop into what it is today. I've known him for about 20 years. The "Noisy Brothers" consists of customers from his shop who occasionally gather to discuss information sourced from Danish dealers and talk about auctions. Whenever I go to Tokyo for an exhibition meeting or the like, they catch wind of it and arrange a meal gathering, making sure to block off my schedule (laughs). When I arrive at the venue, more than ten people are often gathered, including those who traveled from far away. It's both flattering and a bit overwhelming.
One day in 2023, the "eldest brother" contacted me, saying he wanted to visit my home in East Kagawa Town, Hokkaido. It was a group of eight people, including the Høstbo couple, who run the Danish dealer Dansk Møbel Kunst (DMK) with shops in Germany and Paris, a real estate company owner, and a collector who knows more about Kay Bojesen than I do. Among them was Mr. T. I wondered, Why is Mr. T here? But then I realized that Mr. T was a close customer of Mr. K. It all made sense—K must have been behind the furniture and décor at that cafe. During their visit, Mr. T took a photo of my garden from the window, and that’s what he later painted and gave to me as a gift.
“Danish Chairs”, published in 1997, was later released in a remade edition by another publisher.
All of these connections were brought about by a single book. Even now, there are people who ask for my autograph on this book at seminars and other events, and it fills me with great joy. By studying Denmark, I have truly formed connections with many wonderful people. Once, Casper Salto, the grandson of Axel Salto and a designer in Denmark, told me, "The renewed spotlight on Danish design today is because of your book, Mr. Oda. All Danes are grateful to you." Those words have stayed with me over the years and continue to empower me.
Danish Chairs began as a project almost 40 years ago, with plans to complete it within five years. Since it was meant to be a published book, I set high standards for its quality and aimed to make it a bible for those wanting to learn about Danish furniture. I decided to include 320 pieces and set the price at 5,000 yen because I wanted students to be able to afford it. When I consulted the publisher, they told me that no matter how hard they tried, it would be impossible to produce it at that price. So, I reduced the number of pieces to 170 and limited the color pages to just 16, finally reaching an agreement. That book was made possible thanks to the support of not only the publisher but also many people involved with Asahikawa furniture and various universities. At the end of the book, I made sure to include everyone's names as a small gesture of thanks.
Many people have referred to my collection as a "great treasure," but in the end, objects are just objects. True wealth lies in the connections we form with others. I truly believe that now, from the bottom of my heart. The gift from Mr. T, which symbolizes these connections, became truly the greatest present to myself, reminding me of all the hard work that went into creating this book.
October 29th, 2024 Centpure (Higashikawa)
Interviewer: Kano Nishikawa
After the interview
In Higashikawa, the “Chair Talk” and “Design School” were events I always looked forward to attending. I gradually became familiar with the “Noisy Sisters,” but I had no idea there was even a “Noisy Brothers” (laughs). Come to think of it, when Mr. Oda mentioned before and said, “When I go to Tokyo, there are people who won’t let me out of their sight...” that must have been them (definitely!). By the way, hearing his story about gift-giving reminded me of something. This happened more than 30 years ago when Mr. Oda was still commuting from Osaka to Asahikawa. I once delivered his favorite treat, corn, to the hotel where he was staying. He was out, so I put it in a styrofoam box to keep it warm and left it at the front desk. Later that evening, he called and said, “I had it right away. It’s so sweet! Did you boil it with sugar?” I was surprised and said, “No, it was boiled with salt,” and he was really surprised. When I think back, my method of gifting was pretty careless (sweat). But since he was so happy, I’ll consider it a success!
Copywriter Kano Nishikawa
After working at a design office in Tokyo and Sapporo, I started working as a freelancer in Asahikawa in 2001. Until now, I have been involved in the production of advertisements for local companies and organizations, including Asahikawa Furniture. I have known Mr. Oda for about 30 years through my work.
This time, the interview was conducted by the office window. Outside, the autumn leaves were in full display. Soon, the season of snow will arrive.
