Kettelhut Chair | Finn Juhl | 1951
The chair with the broad embracing armrests exemplifies Finn Juhl’s artistic approach to furniture design. Known as SW 86, the chair originally went into production in Denmark, but Finn Juhl had international ambitions and sent the drawing to the American manufacturer Baker Furniture. Today, the chair takes its honorary name from Mary Ellen Kettelhut, former President of Marketing at Baker, who privately owns the original watercolor drawing. The chair is upholstered by hand in Denmark in textile or leather. The frame is available in oak or walnut.
Please note that the actual colours 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:
1951, relaunched in 2024
Materials:
Frame: Solid FSC® certified oak and American walnut
Upholstery:
Leather or textile
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 5186
W: 81 cm D: 74 cm H: 88 cm Seat heighte: 42 cm
The chair with the broad embracing armrests exemplifies Finn Juhl’s artistic approach to furniture design. Known as SW 86, the chair originally went into production in Denmark, but Finn Juhl had international ambitions and sent the drawing to the American manufacturer Baker Furniture. Today, the chair takes its honorary name from Mary Ellen Kettelhut, former President of Marketing at Baker, who privately owns the original watercolor drawing. The chair is upholstered by hand in Denmark in textile or leather. The frame is available in oak or walnut.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1951, relaunched in 2024
Materials:
Frame: Solid FSC® certified oak and American walnut
Upholstery:
Leather or textile
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 5186
W: 81 cm D: 74 cm H: 88 cm Seat heighte: 42 cm
A Lounge Chair with International Appeal
When Finn Juhl sketched the chair with the characteristic, broad, and embracing armrests, he already knew it was one of the pieces he wanted to reach beyond Denmark's borders. The chair has a distinctive design, and he explicitly noted on the drawing: "Production and sales rights abroad reserved for Finn Juhl." This allowed him to confidently put the chair into production in Denmark while also sending the drawing of the design to Baker Furniture in Michigan, USA.
At the Danish workshop, Søren Willadsen Møbelfabrik, where Finn Juhl originally had the chair manufactured, there was a proud tradition of craftsmanship. Throughout the '40s and '50s, Finn Juhl had a range of furniture produced here. The SW 86 was designed during the peak of his career, a time when his work was gaining attention in Denmark, Europe, and particularly the USA, inspiring audiences with his sculptural shapes and unique approach to design. In the USA, this interest led to notable works such as the interior of the Trusteeship Council Chamber at the United Nations in New York, inaugurated in 1952, and furniture pieces like the Baker Sofa and the Cocktail Table, both inspired by American high-society parties.
Kettelhut Today
In 2021, House of Finn Juhl was contacted by Mary Ellen Kettelhut, who wrote that she owned an original Finn Juhl watercolor drawing. The drawing of the SW 86 immediately captured the interest of House of Finn Juhl. Mary Ellen Kettelhut, former Vice President of Marketing at Baker Furniture, had received the watercolor as a gift from her employer.
Hans Henrik Sørensen, co-founder of House of Finn Juhl, recounts:
"Mary Ellen Kettelhut asked if we were interested in the watercolor, as she had retired from a long career in furniture, most recently with Herman Miller. After several pleasant conversations, she decided to keep the drawing, and I promised that if we put the chair into production, we would name it after her."
Mary Ellen Kettelhut also mentioned that several pieces of furniture had been in development at Baker Furniture but were never realized. With this newfound knowledge, it became clear that the chair, with its powerful yet unpretentious design, deserved to be brought into the present and showcased to the world.
Specifications
Design: Finn Juhl
Name: Kettelhut
Year: 1951
Model: FJ 5186
Materials: Solid FSC® certified oak and American walnut
Dimensions: W: 81 cm x D: 74 cm x H: 88 cm x Sh: 42 cm
