The 48 Chair | Finn Juhl | 1948
The 48 Chair is easily recognized because of Finn Juhl’s characteristic, sculptural shapes and delicate details. The organically shaped seat and backrest are raised from the carrying frame, visually lifting the seated person, making it appear as if the law of gravity has been defeated. The 48 Chair is available in two versions. The first with a frame in a combination of oak and walnut and the second crafted entirely in walnut. The chair is upholstered in textile or leather.
Please note that the actual colours and materials may vary due to different screen balances and settings. While the version shown is supposed to be viewed only as an example, individual material photos can be found via our material page.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1948, relaunched in 2018
Materials:
Frame: Oak/walnut or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 4801
W: 69 cm | D: 63 cm | H: 80 cm
Seat height: 44 cm
The 48 Chair is easily recognized because of Finn Juhl’s characteristic, sculptural shapes and delicate details. The organically shaped seat and backrest are raised from the carrying frame, visually lifting the seated person, making it appear as if the law of gravity has been defeated. The 48 Chair is available in two versions. The first with a frame in a combination of oak and walnut and the second crafted entirely in walnut. The chair is upholstered in textile or leather.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1948, relaunched in 2018
Materials:
Frame: Oak/walnut or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 4801
W: 69 cm | D: 63 cm | H: 80 cm
Seat height: 44 cm
An Elegant and Timeless Piece
Even to the modern eye it is clear that Finn Juhl’s ideas reached far into the future, when the 48 Chair was presented in 1948. He never let his innovative designs stand alone but rather opted for creating a so called “Gesamtkunstwerk” – a German word, which means entirety experienced and achieved through even the smallest of details. Finn Juhl’s stand at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition was thus a fully designed work.
In 1948, the Danish newspaper Politiken wrote the following review about Finn Juhl and Niels Vodder’s stand “The Study of an Art Collector”:
“… The collaboration between Vodder and Finn Juhl is not a new one. They have participated at the (Cabinetmakers’ Guild) Exhibitions with increasing success for years now. But this year they have managed to reach a new level, best classified as a new school of design.”
Sculptural Details and Multiple Materials
The 48 Chair is defined by Finn Juhl’s characteristic, sculptural shapes and delicate details. The chair embraces the seated person while rounded surfaces are shaped to fit the gravity of the resting body and its proportions. The organically shaped seat and backrest, upholstered in textile or leather, are raised from the carrying frame in an almost demonstrative manner. Visually lifting the seated person, making it appear as if the law of gravity has been defeated.
Additionally, the 48 Series is characterized by the use of multiple materials. Today, it is rare to see furniture that employs two different types of wood. This type of contrast has been left almost entirely to Finn Juhl despite the many years that have passed. The 48 Chair is available in oak with armrests and toes in walnut and a version entirely in walnut. The chair is upholstered in either textile or leather.
