Thoughtfully Curated – Great Dane

Offering an abundance of carefully crafted pieces by Denmark’s leading artisanal designers, Great Dane presents the Australian interior landscape with a highly curated collection of coveted Scandinavian furniture, lighting and homewares. Having intently acquired outstanding designs for over two decades, the brand upholds an exacting ethos that champions intimate relationships with manufacturers and a focus on authentic fabrication.

Whilst the company’s Fitzroy-based showroom is replete with fine items, Great Dane’s buying procedure is anything but precipitous. For Founder Anton Assad and Creative Director Megan Marshall, Great Dane’s scrupulous selection process is something the pair are “extremely passionate about”. Together, the duo takes an involved role in securing beautiful Scandinavian objects for the Australian market, sifting meticulously through pieces that not only present a refined aesthetic but also embody the artisanal process synonymous with exceptional Danish design. “For us, it’s essential that our makers and furniture are true to our values of upholding Scandinavian craftsmanship and ultimately the right fit for our business,” Anton explains. “We made a commitment to never compromise, and fortunately, neither of us has ever wavered from this belief. Sometimes it can take up to four years before a piece is ready to show customers,” he reveals. “We trust the process and are confident that by the time our pieces reach the showroom floor we will be extremely satisfied and proud of the result.

Fortified by the robust relationships that form the heart of Great Dane’s business, Anton tells that, “we have been fortunate to work with some of our makers for over 20 years, and they are like family to us.” Evolving alongside its network of connections, the company engages collaboratively with manufacturers and craftspeople. Anton says, “by staying attuned to each other’s needs, we can continue to grow together, bringing our customers the exceptional quality and timeless designs that define our brand.”

A fitting example of such principles, Anton names the made-to-order Johansen table as a personal favourite from Great Dane’s extensive collection. “Mads Johansen was a passionate and innovative furniture designer. Suspension bridges and Scandinavian engineering were the inspiration behind the Johansen table, which he designed as part of his final year apprenticeship,” he recalls. “In 2014, Mads passed away after a long period of serious illness. We are incredibly proud to provide a home for his furniture to live on.” An unrivalled sense of craftsmanship underlies the design, as Anton recounts that Mads’s legacy is upheld “by a small team of cabinetmakers in a single workshop in the Danish countryside. Only one person is entrusted with the responsibility to personally select every single plank of wood used in this iconic design. This sense of integrity is without peer, and it is only upon seeing the table in person that you realise what an achievement its presence really is.”

Both materially excellent – with a signature seamless oak grain throughout – and steeped with rich history by its maker, the eponymous design by Mads Johansen reflects the calibre of workmanship present in each of Great Dane’s prized product offerings. Tireless in its dedication to delivering uncompromising design to Australian shores, Great Dane looks ever-forward, grounded by genuine passion for celebrating Scandinavian craftsmanship.

Having intently acquired outstanding designs for over two decades, the brand upholds an exacting ethos that champions intimate relationships with manufacturers and a focus on authentic fabrication.