The France Chair | Finn Juhl | 1956
The France Chair from 1956 was designed for the Danish company France & Son and was aimed at the American market. While understated in its expression, it is recognized for its fine details, such as the seat and back being subtly lifted from the frame, while the armrests are adorned with the iconic paper-knife detail. The chair is available in oak, smoked oak, black painted oak, or walnut with hand sewn upholstery in textile or leather.
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Hallingdal beskrivelse
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Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1956, relaunched in 2016
Materials:
Frame: Oak, black painted oak, smoked oak or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 1360
W: 80 cm | D: 72 cm | H: 81 cm
Seat height: 38 cm
The France Chair from 1956 was designed for the Danish company France & Son and was aimed at the American market. While understated in its expression, it is recognized for its fine details, such as the seat and back being subtly lifted from the frame, while the armrests are adorned with the iconic paper-knife detail. The chair is available in oak, smoked oak, black painted oak, or walnut with hand sewn upholstery in textile or leather.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1956, relaunched in 2016
Materials:
Frame: Oak, black painted oak, smoked oak or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 1360
W: 80 cm | D: 72 cm | H: 81 cm
Seat height: 38 cm
The Partnership with France & Son
Finn Juhl rode a wave of international success during the 1950s, partly due to his collaboration with the Danish furniture manufacturer France & Son. C.W.F. France, an English businessman, had moved to Denmark in 1936 to run a small mattress factory in partnership with cabinetmaker Eric Daverkosen, who passed away the following year. The company went on to achieve remarkable success during the 1950s.
By 1954, France & Daverkosen accounted for 60% of all Danish furniture exports, and at its peak, the factory employed 350 people. In 1957, the company was renamed France & Son when C.W.F. France’s son, James France, joined the business. In 1966, the company was sold to Poul Cadovius.
Comfortable Yet Elegant
The France Chair was designed for the American market in the late 1950s and originally delivered flat-packed as knock-down furniture – a core part of France’s successful business model in the US. Today, however, the chair is delivered fully assembled.
Though one of the few Finn Juhl chairs made for industrial production, it retains fine detailing. The seat and backrest are lifted from the frame, and the armrests feature the iconic paper knife detail found on the 45 Chair.
With its striking organic wooden frame and hand-upholstered leather or textile seat and back, the France Chair has a timeless elegance. Whether in a home office, living room, or lobby, it embodies the perfect balance of organic design and exceptional comfort.
