THE 45 CHAIR | FINN JUHL | 1945
In the autumn of 1945, Finn Juhl presented the 45 Chair at the annual Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition. Today, the chair is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary and iconic pieces in Danish furniture design. Finn Juhl's dream of studying art history shines through in the bold design of the 45 Chair, showcasing his deep understanding of international contemporary art. The chair is crafted from oak or walnut and can be upholstered with textile or leather.
Hallingdal beskrivelse
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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:
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: 88 cm
Seat height: 42 cm
In the autumn of 1945, Finn Juhl presented the 45 Chair at the annual Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition. Today, the chair is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary and iconic pieces in Danish furniture design. Finn Juhl's dream of studying art history shines through in the bold design of the 45 Chair, showcasing his deep understanding of international contemporary art. The chair is crafted from oak or walnut and can be upholstered with textile or leather.
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: 88 cm
Seat height: 42 cm
The Unique Shape
On the 45 Chair the space between the frame and the seat creates a lightness, which combined with its organic shape and sublime detailing, ensures unique beauty and floating elegance. The chair appeals to all senses and pleases the eye and body alike. Furthermore, the 45 Chair has been called “the mother of all modern chairs” by the Japanese professor and design collector Mr. Noritsugu Oda.
The groundbreaking 45 Chair became the prelude to the unfolding of Finn Juhl’s characteristic style of design that we know from the latter part of the 1940s. During this period, his designs are characterized exactly by liberating the seat and backrest as a single unit carried by the frame. This approach became a defining moment in establishing Finn Juhl’s status as a pioneer within furniture design.
The Reception of the Chair
The 45 Chair is a true masterpiece and has become an icon of Finn Juhl’s universe of furniture. With this chair, Finn Juhl managed to create an, at the time, unseen design by separating the carried and the carrying elements.
In reality, Finn Juhl had previously experimented with separating the upholstered parts from the wooden parts within his furniture, but with its curved backrest and organic shape the 45 Chair cemented Finn Juhl as one of the leading designers of the 20th century.
In a review on Finn Juhl's stand at the exhibition in 1945, the architect Erik Herløw wrote;
- Erik Herløw, Architect, 1945
