THE 45 CHAIR | FINN JUHL | 1945
In the fall of 1945, Finn Juhl unveiled the 45 Chair at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition. With this chair, he introduced a groundbreaking design separating the carried from the carrying elements – something previously unseen. Today, the chair is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary and iconic pieces in Danish furniture design. The chair is upholstered by hand in Denmark in textile or leather. The frame is available in oak or walnut.
Hallingdal beskrivelse
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Please note that the versions shown here represent only a selection of the many available options. For a complete overview of colors and materials, please explore the material page.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1945, relaunched in 2003
Materials:
Frame: Oak or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 4500
W: 66.5 cm | D: 73 cm | H: 85 cm
Seat height: 44 cm
In the fall of 1945, Finn Juhl unveiled the 45 Chair at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition. With this chair, he introduced a groundbreaking design separating the carried from the carrying elements – something previously unseen. Today, the chair is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary and iconic pieces in Danish furniture design. The chair is upholstered by hand in Denmark in textile or leather. The frame is available in oak or walnut.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1945, relaunched in 2003
Materials:
Frame: Oak or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 4500
W: 66.5 cm | D: 73 cm | H: 85 cm
Seat height: 44 cm
A Defining Silhouette
On the 45 Chair, the space between the frame and the seat creates a sense of lightness which, combined with its organic shape and refined detailing, gives the chair a unique beauty and floating elegance. The chair appeals to all the senses, pleasing both eye and body, and it has even been called “the mother of all modern chairs” by Japanese professor and design collector Mr. Noritsugu Oda.
The groundbreaking 45 Chair marked the beginning of Finn Juhl’s distinctive design language, which came to full expression in the late 1940s. During this period, his work was defined by the liberation of the seat and backrest – designed as a single unit, carried independently by the frame. This bold approach became a defining moment in establishing Finn Juhl as a true pioneer in furniture design.
Immediate Acclaim
While Finn Juhl had already begun exploring the idea of separating the upholstered and wooden elements in earlier works, the 45 Chair marked a turning point. Its sculptural backrest and fluid, organic form elevated the concept to new heights, firmly establishing Finn Juhl as a leading figure in 20th-century design.
In a review of Finn Juhl's stand at the Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition in 1945, the architect Erik Herløw wrote:
"In the early years, Finn Juhl's attempts seemed exaggerated, but now it is much more interesting to observe the result he has achieved by going his own ways. Most beautiful is an armchair, where the frame is organically shaped as a bone, able to support the muscles of an arm and the weight of a body. The expression of the chair is reminiscent of a weapon, sharpened by human hands."
