80 Years After Its Breakthrough, Finn Juhl's 45 Sofa is Reborn
The 45 Chair became an icon from the moment Finn Juhl and master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder presented it at the Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition in 1945. The renowned Japanese furniture collector and author Noritsugu Oda, who also knew Finn Juhl personally, called the 45 Chair "the mother of all modern chairs".
That same year, Finn Juhl designed a sofa with the same natural proportions and distinctive construction, but with room for two. In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the 45 Series, House of Finn Juhl is now relaunching the sofa – first as an exclusive First Edition of 80 pieces, and subsequently as part of the permanent collection.
Just like the 45 Chair, the sofa represents the meticulous and uncompromising approach to furniture design through which Finn Juhl pushed the boundaries of what was physically possible with wood as a material. By separating the carrying elements from the carried, he introduced an entirely new approach to furniture construction and created the illusion of a seat and backrest floating freely in the air.
Since Finn Juhl was neither a cabinetmaker nor a trained furniture designer, he lacked the traditional understanding of materials – and was therefore remarkably bold in his creative process. It was then up to Niels Vodder to craft the precise joints and delicate balance that could transform Juhl’s drawings into tangible furniture. It is this static audacity expressed through slender rods, curved forms, and refined joinery that makes the design truly exceptional.
The Culmination
of an Experiment
Already in the early 1940s, Finn Juhl began experimenting with wooden frames that conveyed a sense of lightness, but the work culminated in 1945, when the 45 Chair and Sofa came into being. At that time, several modernist designers had already presented furniture with floating elements and visible constructions – yet almost exclusively crafted in tubular steel.
It was the living materials – the inherent challenges of the wood and the refinement of every curve and joint – that made Finn Juhl’s chair and sofa truly exceptional. In a review from the same year, architect Erik Herløw wrote that "the frame is plastically shaped, organic like a bone, suited to support the arm’s muscles and bear the body’s weight."
Finn Juhl’s bold visions would hardly have taken physical form without his invaluable collaborator of 21 years, master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder, whose craftsmanship and precision made the impossible possible. Together, they created a series of furniture pieces that expanded the very notion of what Danish furniture art could look like.
A Sculptural
Work of Art
The backrest highlights Finn Juhl's organic sensibility. Instead of being straight, two soft curves subtly divide the seating area, creating a rhythmic visual tension. A subtle detail that elevates the piece into a work of art within the room. Both the chair and the sofa have since become international collector's items and stand as enduring symbols of the golden age of Danish Modern.
80 Years as an Icon
In 2025, the 45 Chair and 45 Sofa celebrates their 80th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the 45 Sofa is being reintroduced after decades out of production.
The first 80 pieces will be a numbered First Edition from House of Finn Juhl, each fitted with a discreet sterling silver emblem beneath the frame alongside a unique certificate. They are crafted in oiled walnut and upholstered in Watercolour textile in 32 colorways, or in Elegance leather in walnut, black, or natural vegetable-tanned.
This exclusive edition will be available through selected official Finn Juhl retailers worldwide.
