The Kaufmann Table | Finn Juhl | 1945
Like many of Finn Juhl’s iconic designs, the Kaufmann Table was originally designed for his own home. With its unusually refined edge profile, the table stands in a class of its own, creating the illusion of the tabletop floating above the frame. The name honors Finn Juhl’s friend Edgar Kaufmann Jr., former director of the Industrial Design Department at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Almost entirely handcrafted, the table is constructed from oak, featuring a veneered walnut tabletop with solid edges.
Please note that the actual colors and materials may vary due to image editing and differences in screen balances and settings. The versions shown are intended to serve only as examples. We kindly encourage you to view the physical material samples at our official retailers. Learn more about our materials here: material page.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1945, relaunched in 2011
Materials:
Frame is oak. Tabletop is walnut veneer with solid edges. Footrests are brass.
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 5045 L: 202 cm | W: 94 cm | H: 71.5 cm
Like many of Finn Juhl’s iconic designs, the Kaufmann Table was originally designed for his own home. With its unusually refined edge profile, the table stands in a class of its own, creating the illusion of the tabletop floating above the frame. The name honors Finn Juhl’s friend Edgar Kaufmann Jr., former director of the Industrial Design Department at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Almost entirely handcrafted, the table is constructed from oak, featuring a veneered walnut tabletop with solid edges.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1945, relaunched in 2011
Materials:
Frame is oak. Tabletop is walnut veneer with solid edges. Footrests are brass.
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 5045 L: 202 cm | W: 94 cm | H: 71.5 cm
Dedicated to a
Lifelong Friend
In 1948, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York was planning an exhibition of Scandinavian design. As part of the preparations, the head of the museum's design department, curator Edgar Kaufmann Jr., embarked on a study tour through Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark.
At 'Den Permanente' – a showroom and sales exhibition for Danish design and crafts located on the City Hall Square in Copenhagen – Edgar Kaufmann and Finn Juhl met for the first time. The meeting marked the beginning of a lifelong professional relationship and personal friendship. Finn Juhl later referred to Kaufmann as his guru and source of inspiration, and their encounter undoubtedly became instrumental in launching Finn Juhl's international career.
As with so many of Finn Juhl's designs, the desk was originally created for his own home. It was never given an official name, so we decided to dedicate it to Edgar Kaufmann Jr., the man who "discovered" Finn Juhl.
A Floating Tabletop
Finn Juhl deliberately worked with a mix of wood types. A dark walnut tabletop contrasts with a lighter oak frame, clearly distinguishing between the carried and the carrying elements. The table's many design details serve both functional and visual purposes.
A brass detail on the crossbar adds a refined touch while also protecting the wood – should one be tempted to rest their feet on it. On the original watercolor drawing of the table, Finn Juhl noted: "The crossbars are capped with brass on the top side, allowing them to support one's feet without damage when leaning back in the chair to meditate or read the newspaper."
The Kaufmann Table is almost entirely handcrafted and made in oak, with a walnut-veneered tabletop and solid wood edges.
