Pelican Chair by Finn Juhl | House of Finn Juhl

Connect

Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to receive the latest on our products, upcoming events, and what is happening in the world of Finn Juhl.

Subscribe

THE PELICAN CHAIR | FINN JUHL | 1940

Finn Juhl’s fascination for surrealism is clearly visible in the Pelican Chair. Among all his designs, the Pelican Chair was perhaps the furthest ahead of its time. The Pelican Chair is produced in two versions - with or without buttons. It is manufactured with a cushion and upholstered by hand in Denmark in textile, sheepskin or leather. The legs are available in oak, walnut or black painted.

Wood Type
Upholstery
Remix
321
Hallingdal
Hallingdal beskrivelse
Sheepskin
Vidar
Watercolour

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.

Product details

Design:

Finn Juhl

Year:

1940, relaunched in 2001

Materials:

Legs: Walnut, oak or black painted

Upholstery:

Textile, sheepskin or leather

Model and Dimensions:

FJ 4000 (Without Buttons)
FJ 4001 (With Buttons)
W: 85 cm | D: 76 cm | H: 68 cm
Seat height: 37 cm

Finn Juhl’s fascination for surrealism is clearly visible in the Pelican Chair. Among all his designs, the Pelican Chair was perhaps the furthest ahead of its time. The Pelican Chair is produced in two versions - with or without buttons. It is manufactured with a cushion and upholstered by hand in Denmark in textile, sheepskin or leather. The legs are available in oak, walnut or black painted.

Product details

Design:

Finn Juhl

Year:

1940, relaunched in 2001

Materials:

Legs: Walnut, oak or black painted

Upholstery:

Textile, sheepskin or leather

Model and Dimensions:

FJ 4000 (Without Buttons)
FJ 4001 (With Buttons)
W: 85 cm | D: 76 cm | H: 68 cm
Seat height: 37 cm

About the Pelican Chair

A Chair that was Decades Ahead of Its Time

When the Pelican Chair was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1940, it stood out with its unusual animalistic shape and sturdy legs.

The iconic chair blends in perfectly with today’s modern interiors. The chair is a perfect match for the Pelican Table and the Poet Sofa.

The Pelican Chair with walnut legs and sheepskin upholstery in the colour 'Moonlight'.
The Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Warm Amber'.
Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Sacho' upholstery in the colour 'Safire 0002'.
Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Sacho' upholstery in the colour 'Safire 0002'.
About the Pelican Chair

Like a Body Holding a Body

Finn Juhl normally named his furniture simply after the year in which they were designed, but over time the nickname "The Pelican" stuck to the chair.  Even though the Pelican Chair became instantaneously famous, 61 years would pass before it was put into production in 2001. The characteristic soft and organic shape is almost like a body holding a body. When you sit down, the chair practically gives you a friendly hug. Like many of Finn Juhl’s later designs, the chair offers several comfortable ways to sit.

The Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Karakorum' upholstery in the colour 'Ivory'.
The Pelican Chair exhibited at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1940.
The Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Pumpkin Spice'.
The Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Pumpkin Spice'.
Finn Juhl's original drawing of the Pelican Chair from 1940. Photo credit: Pernille Klemp, Designmuseum Danmark
The Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Vidar' upholstery in the colour '1511'.
Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Sacho' upholstery in the colour 'Tablu'.
Pelican Chair with walnut legs and 'Sacho' upholstery in the colour 'Tablu'.
Follow us on Instagram
@houseoffinnjuhl