The Chieftain Chair liberated itself from the strict tradition of functionalism, both in terms of organic shapes, unique construction and impeccable quality. Despite its 70 years of age, it has never been more current.
One morning in the spring of 1949, the architect Finn Juhl placed a piece of paper on his drawing board and drew four vertical lines with "something" in-between. He had no clue that he had just embarked on the journey towards creating one of the most famous and...
“Have you ever noticed these fancy homes designed by architects? Everything is so pure and clean, they only dare to use the colors white, black and grey. They don’t even risk hanging art on the walls, and when they do it’s some small abstract piece. It...
You may have noticed that Barack Obama was seated in Finn Juhl's iconic Chieftain Chair during his lecture a few weeks ago in Denmark. But, did you know that he also stayed in the Finn Juhl-suite at Hotel Koldingfjord?The Finn Juhl-suite is located in the main...
The 45 Chair is a true masterpiece, which has become symbolic for Finn Juhl’s design genius. The chair was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmaker’s Guild Exhibition in 1945 and has been called “the mother of all modern chairs” by the Japanese professor and chair expert Mr. Noritsugu Oda.
This small two-seater was first shown at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1941 and should be seen as a natural progression from the Pelican Chair from the previous year. The upholstery is very slim compared to what was the norm at the time and the result of Juhl’s ambition to create functional furniture for smaller apartments.
In no other design is Finn Juhl’s fascination for surrealism more apparent than in the Pelican Chair. Of all Juhl’s many designs, the Pelican was probably also the one, which was most ahead of its time. When it was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1940, it stood out with its unusual shapes and sturdy legs.
The Chieftain Chair is one of Finn Juhl’s absolute masterpieces, representing the peak of his career as a furniture designer. At its introduction in 1949, the chair marked a renewal of the Danish furniture design tradition and today it is seen as one of the most important exponents of the Danish Modern movement in the USA in the 1950’s.
Initially, Finn Juhl wanted to become an art historian. Since his early years, he had been interested in fine arts. However, his father wouldn't allow a career in the arts. Instead Finn Juhl enrolled at the Department of architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen. Finn Juhl began his studies in the 1930s, which was an important period in furniture design, when modern design started to emerge.
Our passion is relaunching Finn Juhl’s furniture, in respect to his legacy, but in a modern reality. The details must be as fine and pure as if it came from the original cabinetmakers’ workshop, but our understanding of quality also includes durability. Our products have to be so durable that they can be enjoyed by users today and by generations to come.
Ever since we opened our first office in Henrik’s mother’s basement in 1990, our mission has been to create a company rooted in the true passion for good furniture design. The playing field is the cross-section where functional design and craftsmanship of the highest quality meet art. The result is joy of life.
