Japan Sofa | Two Seater | Finn Juhl | 1957
Despite the Japan Sofa's simple construction, Finn Juhl remained true to his concept of emphasizing the distinction between the carried and carrying elements by separating the backrest from the supporting frame. The solid horizontal backrest, resting on slightly tapered legs, references a traditional Japanese temple door. The Japan Sofa Two Seater is available in oak or walnut with upholstery options in textile or leather.
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:
1957, relaunched in 2007
Materials:
Frame: Oak or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 5302
W: 121 cm | D: 70 cm | H: 78 cm
Seat height: 35 cm
Despite the Japan Sofa's simple construction, Finn Juhl remained true to his concept of emphasizing the distinction between the carried and carrying elements by separating the backrest from the supporting frame. The solid horizontal backrest, resting on slightly tapered legs, references a traditional Japanese temple door. The Japan Sofa Two Seater is available in oak or walnut with upholstery options in textile or leather.
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1957, relaunched in 2007
Materials:
Frame: Oak or walnut
Upholstery:
Textile or leather
Model and Dimensions:
FJ 5302
W: 121 cm | D: 70 cm | H: 78 cm
Seat height: 35 cm
Simple, Functional, and Elegant
In the 1950s, Finn Juhl designed a series of furniture for the company France & Søn, meeting the era’s demand for simpler furniture types and pieces suitable for more industrial production. The best known of these are the pieces from the 1957 Japan series, which includes an armchair, a stool, a two-seat sofa, and a three-seat sofa.
A year after its launch, Gunnar Bratvold, editor of the design magazine Mobilia, wrote that the Japan series deserved an award of honor:
"It shows Finn Juhl at his best in its simplicity, functionality, and high quality. And when one also sees that refined elegance is preserved, it is easy to understand why Danish furniture is in demand all over the world."
The Inspiration from Japan
The sublime simplicity and minimalist language of the Japan sofa stand in stark contrast to Finn Juhl's earlier furniture, drawing clear parallels to traditional Japanese architecture, which deeply inspired him in the 1950s. The horizontal, robust back rail, supported by the slightly tapered legs, evokes the image of a Japanese temple gate. The back rail is finished with a concave detail that adds a subtle yet striking visual refinement – a hallmark of Finn Juhl, who famously said that deviation is in the detail.
