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Finn Juhl

Danish, 1912-1989

Along with Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and Børge Mogensen, Finn Juhl was one of the great masters of mid-20th-century Danish design. Juhl was the first among that group to have his work promoted overseas, bringing the character of the nation’s furnishings — and the inherent principles of grace, craftsmanship and utility on which they were based — to an international audience. A stylistic maverick, Juhl embraced expressive, free-flowing shapes in chair and sofa designs much earlier than his colleagues, yet even his quietest pieces incorporate supple, curving forms that are at once elegant and ergonomic.

As a young man, Juhl hoped to become an art historian, but his father steered him into a more practical course of study in architecture. He began designing furniture in the late 1930s, a discipline in which, despite his education, Juhl was self-taught, and quite proud of the fact. His earliest works, designed in the late 1930s, are perhaps his most idiosyncratic. The influence of contemporary art is clear in Juhl's 1939 Pelican chair: an almost Surrealist take on the classic wing chair. Critics reviled the piece, however; one said it looked like a "tired walrus." Juhl had tempered his creativity by 1945, when the Danish furniture-making firm Niels Vodder began to issue his designs. Yet his now-classic NV 45 armchair still demonstrates panache, with a seat that floats above the chair’s teak frame.

Juhl first exhibited his work in the United States in 1950, championed by Edgar Kaufmann Jr., an influential design critic and scion of America’s most prominent family of modern architecture and design patrons. (Kaufmann’s father commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright’s design of the house “Fallingwater.”) Juhl quickly won a following for such signature designs as the supremely comfortable Chieftan lounge chair, the biomorphic Baker sofa, and the Judas table, a piece ornamented with stylish inlaid silver plaquettes.

As you will see from the offerings on 1stDibs, Finn Juhl’s furniture — as well as his lighting, ceramics, tableware and accessories — has an air of relaxed sophistication and elegance that is unique in the realm of mid-20th-century design.

Average Sold Price
$5,046
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Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Finn Juhl
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
46 Armchair
46 Armchair
Finn Juhl Japan Chair
Finn Juhl Japan Chair
46 Sofa
46 Sofa
Finn Juhl Baker Sofa
Finn Juhl Baker Sofa
Early Model Finn Juhl for France & Søn Lounge Chair in Teak
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Finn Juhl for France & Søn, lounge chair early model '136', teak, fabric upholstery, Denmark, 1959. Very honest and open design by the Danish architect and designer Finn Juhl. As a...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Finn Juhl

Materials

Fabric, Teak

Finn Juhl for Bovirke Large Wall Unit in Teak and Brass
By Finn Juhl, Bovirke
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Finn Juhl for Bovirke, wall unit, model 'BO71', teak, pine, brass, Denmark, 1950s This eccentric library unit designed by the renowned designer Finn Juhl is based on an elongated c...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Finn Juhl

Materials

Brass

Set of Chieftain Armchair and Chieftain Stool in Wood and Leather by Finn Juhl
By Finn Juhl
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Finn Juhl in 1949, relaunched in 2002. Chieftain footstool designed by Finn Juhl in 1953, relaunched in 2015. Manufactured by House of Finn Juhl in Denmark. Th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Finn Juhl

Materials

Leather, Wood

Finn Juhl Lounge Chair Model FD 136 in Teak
By Finn Juhl
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Lounge chair model number FD 136 designed by Finn Juhl for France & Son, Denmark, with a curved backrest and an undulating seat that float within a spare, elega...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Finn Juhl

Materials

Cotton, Teak

Finn Juhl FD-133 teak armchair for France & Daverkosen, Denmark, 1950s
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A beautiful "Spade" lounge chair designed by Finn Juhl for France & Daverkosen in 1953. This chair represents a significant milestone in the history of furniture design as it was amo...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Finn Juhl

Materials

Fabric, Teak

1960s Danish Bwana Chair & Ottoman By Finn Juhl In Teak & Skai
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A 1960s "Bwana" chair and ottoman by Danish designer Finn Juhl for France & Son. This heirloom design showcases Finn Juhl's unique talent. At once impressive and lightweight, it con...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Finn Juhl

Materials

Teak

Finn Juhl Armchair BO-46 - 1st. Original Savak Fabric Upholstery
By Bovirke, Finn Juhl
Located in Utrecht, NL
A rare and early example of armchair model BO-46 by Finn Juhl for Bovirke Denmark. Arm chair model BO-46 was designed by Finn Juhl in 1953 based upon his earlier designed chair model...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Finn Juhl

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Mid Century Danish Finn Juhl Model 138 Teak Lounge Chair For France & Son
By Finn Juhl
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
An outstanding Model 138 solid Teak lounge chair designed in the late 50’s by Finn Juhl. This is one of our own personal favourite chairs and we often think this design has a strong...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Finn Juhl

Materials

Teak

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More Finn Juhl Designs
46 Armchair
46 Armchair
Average Price
$13,535
Number Available
6
46 Armchair
By Finn Juhl
Materials
Wood, Animal Skin, Hardwood, Teak, Leather, Rosewood
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
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Finn Juhl Japan Chair
Finn Juhl Japan Chair
Average Price
$7,508
Number Available
4
Finn Juhl Japan Chair
By Finn Juhl
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Hardwood, Teak
Styles
Mid Century Modern
In its distinctive embodiment of the East-meets-West dialogue represented in mid-century modern art and design, the Japan chair draws on the simple silhouette of the famed Itsukushima Shrine near Hiroshima, Japan. Designed by legendary Danish architect, interior designer and furniture maker Finn Juhl (1912–89) and produced by furniture manufacturer France & Søn, the chair belongs to a series that includes a two-seater sofa, a three-seater sofa and a footstool. Although he originally wante...
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46 Sofa
46 Sofa
Average Price
$23,506
Number Available
4
46 Sofa
By Finn Juhl
Materials
Fabric, Beech, Hardwood, Wood, Wool
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
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Finn Juhl Baker Sofa
Finn Juhl Baker Sofa
Average Price
$43,500
Number Available
3
Finn Juhl Baker Sofa
By Finn Juhl
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Hardwood, Oak, Teak, Walnut
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
With the Baker sofa, aesthetics are as important as utility. Its creator, Finn Juhl (1912–89), once said, “Art has always been my main source of inspiration.” This was unusual for a designer associated with Scandinavian modernism, a movement steeped in cabinetmaker traditions and thus laser-focused on craftsmanship. But unlike his peers, Juhl was not trained in cabinetry. While he shared their prevailing interest in materials, details and finishes, he mined the world of contemporary art for i...
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Finn Juhl furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Finn Juhl furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Finn Juhl furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 304 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 597 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Finn Juhl were created in the modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Hans Olsen, Carl Hansen & Søn, and Bodil Kjaer. Prices for Finn Juhl furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £116 and can go as high as £103,551, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £8,556.

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