P II Samsø – Pegasus Art, Antiques & Design

A summer treasure trove in the heart of Samsø

P II Samsø sits along Langgade in Tranebjerg, the island’s modest hub, behind a discreet façade that belies how much is packed inside. The shop is run as a seasonal branch of Pegasus Kunst- & Antikvitetshandel, a dealer with many years in the Danish art and antiques world, and brings that experience directly to Samsø’s main island. Step through the door and you move from small‑town quiet into a space dense with objects, textures and stories. The atmosphere is intimate rather than grand: low ceilings, shelves layered with finds and light filtering through the shop windows onto old wood, polished brass and framed canvases. It feels closer to a personal collection than to a sterile showroom, with pieces drawn from different eras and places sharing the same room.

From fine art to everyday design classics

P II Samsø reflects the broad range seen in Pegasus’s main operations, spanning modern and older art, Scandinavian design and more traditional antiques. On the walls, you might find graphic works, watercolours or oil paintings, many by Danish artists, interspersed with vintage posters or drawings. Nearby, glass and ceramic pieces – vases, bowls, studio pottery and stoneware – add colour and form, often with that understated Nordic aesthetic. Furniture and lighting are part of the mix too. Chairs, side tables or mirrors in wood and metal sit beside industrial lamps or mid‑century inspired pieces. Smaller items such as silver or costume jewellery, old books, maps and decorative objects invite closer inspection, offering a more affordable way to bring a piece of the shop home.

Objects that carry stories and provenance

Because the owner has dealt in antiques and art for decades, much of the inventory carries a sense of provenance. You may see items linked to Danish history and daily life – an old brass mortar from a Samsø village, maritime pieces, or textiles and carpets with clear signs of age and use. Tribal and ethnographic art occasionally appears as well, from African sculpture to Inuit work, adding another layer of global storytelling. This combination of local references and international finds suits Samsø’s own character as an island that has long inspired artists and writers. Browsing here can feel like leafing through a physical archive, where each object hints at a previous setting or owner, yet is now ready to be reinterpreted in a new home.

An easygoing browsing experience

Visiting P II Samsø is as much about mood as it is about purchase. The shop’s compact layout encourages slow wandering and repeated passes, each time revealing something you missed before – a small ceramic figure behind a lamp, a framed print half hidden on a shelf. There is no fixed route, just a loose flow between corners dedicated to glass, ceramics, jewellery, furniture and wall art. The setting in Tranebjerg adds to the experience. Outside, village life proceeds at a gentle pace; inside, you can take your time, compare objects, and perhaps talk with the owner about origins, materials and periods. Even if you leave empty‑handed, the visit offers a snapshot of Danish collecting culture in a relaxed island frame.

Part of Samsø’s broader creative landscape

Samsø has gradually become a quiet retreat for artists and creatives, and P II Samsø fits naturally into this landscape. The shop acts as a bridge between the island’s tranquil fields and harbours and the wider world of art, design and antiques. For travellers, it offers a chance to step into that conversation, whether by acquiring a distinctive piece or simply enjoying the visual richness on display. For many, a stop at P II Samsø becomes a pleasant interlude between exploring the island’s natural scenery and its small museums and galleries. It is an indoor refuge on breezy days, a source of inspiration on sunny ones, and a place where the past – in the form of objects – remains very much present.