Most known for his furniture design, Finn Juhl (1912-1989) was also an architect, interior and industrial designer, who together with fellow Danes, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Borge Mogensen and Poul Kjaerholm, introduced Danish modern design to the US and beyond. Juhl’s interest for making furniture began in 1930s when his father disapproved of his desire to be an art historian. Although trained in architecture, it was his iconic furniture designs that made him a household name.
In 1945, Finn Juhl set up his own design practice in Copenhagen, specializing in interior and furniture design. Most of Juhl’s furniture design focused on natural materials, such as elegant timber and soft leather or upholstery and exhibit an organic, almost sculptural quality that emphasizes the object’s simple forms. His Pelican Chair is a good example of the link he sought to establish between modern furniture and modern art.
Furniture Designs by Finn Juhl
The Pelican Chair reflected Juhl’s fascination for surrealism. Out of all of his many designs, the chair was probably the one furthest ahead of its time. When it was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1940, it stood out with its unusual shape and sturdy legs. The organic shape of the chair, redolent of a body holding a body, was practically designed to give the seater a warm hug.
The iconic Chieftain Chair is one of Finn Juhl’s masterpieces, representing the peak of his career as a furniture designer. At its introduction in 1949, the chair marked a renewal of the Danish design tradition. Today, it is regarded as one of the most important exponents of the Danish Modern movement in the 1950s.
The Finn Juhl Hotel (Japan)
In the small town of Hakubajust outside the city of Nagano is a lodge that has now been transformed into a designer hotel. Known as the Finn Juhl Hotel, it is a marriage of the sublime beauty of the Japanese Zen tradition and modern Danish design sensibility. The hotel is decorated entirely with Finn Juhl furniture, their organic forms blending naturally with the hotel’s architecture set amidst breathtaking views of the Japanese Alps.
