Pair of Poul Kjaerholm, E. Kold Christensen Steel and Leather PK22 Lounge Chairs
View Similar Items
Pair of Poul Kjaerholm, E. Kold Christensen Steel and Leather PK22 Lounge Chairs
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Kjærholm (Designer),E. Kold Christensen (Maker)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 27.96 in (71 cm)Width: 24.81 in (63 cm)Depth: 24.81 in (63 cm)Seat Height: 13.78 in (35 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Highclere, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: EKK PK22 pair bronze1stDibs: LU4278233833702
PK22 Chair
While his mid-century Danish peers were working with wood, Poul Kjærholm (1929–80) found inspiration in the structural potential of steel. His innovative PK22 chair, designed in 1956 for E. Kold Christensen, offers a modern take on the style of ancient folding chairs through its 20th-century engineering.
Trained as a cabinetmaker, Kjærholm was influenced by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, whose 1929 Barcelona chair — created with Lilly Reich — anticipated the PK22 with its angled metal frame and leather welted cushions. Kjærholm’s pieces balanced precise lines of stainless steel with leather, rope and wicker, each selected with a consideration of how they age. As the organic materials take on imperfections and wear, their patina contrasts with the enduring strength of the steel.
The PK22 chair followed the PK25 lounge chair — completed by Kjærholm while he was studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen — and reflected his evolving approach to design. Whereas the PK25 involved a single steel piece with a rope seat, the PK22 chair offered a simpler shape. Its two leg pieces bend into feet and are connected by two crossbars that curve downward to support a rectangle of leather or woven cane. This allows a person to rest without feeling the metal on the seat or the front edge, and it also makes for easy disassembling.
Because every element of the PK22 chair’s spare construction is visible, Kjærholm considered its aesthetics down to its exposed joints. Its immediate commercial success fueled Kjærholm’s career, and Fritz Hansen continues to manufacture the chair today.
Poul Kjærholm
A trained cabinetmaker, Poul Kjærholm’s use of industrial methods and materials in the 1960s brought a fresh, graceful, sleek new style to Danish modern design.
At what is now the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Kjærholm studied under Hans Wegner and Jørn Utzon — an industrial designer and the architect of the celebrated Sydney Opera House. The latter greatly influenced Kjærholm’s furniture production techniques — although he employed natural materials such as cane and leather, to a far greater extent than his peers Kjærholm embraced the use of steel (rather than wood) framing for his chairs, daybeds and tables.
Kjærholm’s signal design was the PK22 chair of 1956, a low-slung leather lounger on a steel base. The ideas introduced in the PK22 — Kjærholm’s designs were named using a numeric system devised with his manufacturer, E. Kold Christensen — were refined throughout his career, as the offerings below show: the PK11 chair of 1957, with back and armrests formed by a semicircle of ash; the capacious, richly patinated leather seat of a vintage 1961 PK9 chair; the elegant rattan swoop of the PK 24 chaise longue (1965). The chaise longue's leather headrest, held in place by a steel counterweight, best shows Kjærholm's particular gift for combining technological advancements with a respect for traditional detailing.
While respectful of the past, Poul Kjærholm's sensibility is one of optimism and expectation. His was design for those who lived with verve and élan, and confidently anticipated the future.
Find a collection of vintage Poul Kjærholm furniture on 1stDibs.
- 4 Poul Kjaerholm PK9 E. Kold Christensen chairs with seat height extensionsBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Highclere, NewburyA set of 4 Danish Mid Century vintage leather and steel PK9 chairs designed by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen with additional bespoke optional seat height extensions. These ...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Lounge Chairs - Safari style Danish Midcentury chairs by Børge Jensen & SønnerBy Borge JensenLocated in Highclere, NewburyA very rare pair of Danish midcentury Børge Jensen & Sønner ‘Safari’ lounge chairs in canvas and beech. First designed and produced in the mid-1960s these chairs are a development b...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Canvas, Beech
- Lounge Chair, Midcentury Scandinavian Cantilever Chrome and WebbingLocated in Highclere, NewburyMidcentury Scandinavian cantilever chrome and webbing lounge chair. I’ve never seen another one like it, this mystery lounge chair hails from ...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Preben Fabricius and Jorgen Kastlhom FK 6727-3G Lounge Chairs for Walter KnollBy Walter Knoll, Jørgen Kastholm & Preben FabriciusLocated in Highclere, NewburyAn exceptional set of 8 Danish Mid Century Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastlhom FK Lounge Chairs, model FK 6727-3G for Walter Knoll, in a light biscuit...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Vintage sheepskin and leather and cane easy chairs attributed to Rohe NoordwoldeBy Rohe NoordwoldeLocated in Highclere, NewburyWelcome to Valhalla! Very Nordic in style this pair of chairs features thick leather seats and backs, on bound cane supports with long haired Icelandic sheepskin throws – both throws...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Bohemian Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSheepskin, Cane
- Hans J. Wegner Danish 1940s Leather and Oak Model A721 Executive ChairBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Highclere, NewburyAn exceedingly rare Hans J. Wegner Model A721 cognac leather and oak early Danish Mid-century executive chair for Planmøbel, Denmark 1940. Originally designed by Wegner following his work for Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller’s ground breaking Rådhus (Aarhus City Hall) project in 1940, the A721, stands out as one of his earliest known chair designs. Along with a number of other chairs like the B123, the Rådhus chairs were handcrafted by Michael Laursen, I.C.A Nielsen and Planmøbel specifically for the project. Originally made in small numbers all the chairs were of uniform construction with solid oak frames matched to leather upholstery and with thick, solid jointing work that complemented the angular forms. Here we also see for the first time, Wegner’s use of the flared arm rest that were a signature design element for every armchair produced for the Rådhus. These flares were either carved into the wood (as in the Council chamber chairs...Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- 1956, Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen, PK22 Lounge ChairsBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NLThis item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach,...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Matched Pair PK22 Lounge Chairs by Poul Kjærholm for E Kold ChristensenBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Buffalo, NYMatched pair early PK22 lounge chairs by Poul Kjærholm for E Kold Christensen.. retain original black naugahyde, one chair top corners in need or repair (see photo), E. Kold Christe...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- 1956, Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen, PK22 Lounge Chair in Red LeatherBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NLThis item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Poul Kjaerholm PK22 Lounge Chair in Black Leather E Kold Christensen PK 22By Poul KjærholmLocated in Atlanta, GASculptural PK22 Model Lounge Chair, designed by Poul Kjaerholm for E Kold Christensen, signed, Denmark, circa 1960s. According to the estate where we purchased this chair, the leathe...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Exquisite Cognac Leather PK22 chairs by Poul Kjærholm for E. Kold ChristensenBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Voorburg, NLA very nice set of original PK 22 chairs designed by Poul Kjærholm for E. Kold Christensen, Denmark . This original old 1950s edition is professionally reupholstered with soft cognac...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- PK20 Lounge Chair by Poul Kjaerholm, E. Kold Christensen, 1968By Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Lyon, FRRare early edition Danish lounge chair by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen. Steel structure with leather seat. Signed under the seat. Model low back chair, very rare.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel