What would the reputation of mid-century Danish furniture be without legendary female designer Grete Jalk? A pioneer of Scandinavian modernism, Jalk sought to craft furniture that was both cost-efficient and high in quality, each piece made for the evolving interiors and design sensibilities of the day. She continues to be celebrated for her sleek and minimal armchairs, lounge chairs, coffee tables and more.
Jalk was born in 1920 in Copenhagen. She studied at the Drawing and Applied Art School for Women before enrolling at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where famed designer Kaare Klint was among her instructors. Jalk completed her studies in 1946 and began a cabinetmaker apprenticeship. That same year, she won an award at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild competition. Jalk also participated in the 1951 Milan Triennial exhibition, where her designs earned more acclaim and attention.
In 1954, Jalk opened her own design studio and began working with major Danish furniture manufacturers like Fritz Hansen and Glostrup Møbelfabrik. She found inspiration in plywood experiments carried out by Alvar Aalto and Ray and Charles Eames, and she quickly became known for her pared-back, expressive designs, which touted fluid forms and were made of alluring woods such as teak and rosewood.
Jalk’s best-known work is the 1963 GJ chair, a collaboration with cabinetmaker Poul Jeppesen that won first place in the Daily Mail International Furniture Competition. Made of two pieces of molded teak plywood, the sculptural GJ lounge chair is part of the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art.
While creating her iconic furniture designs, Jalk wore many other hats. She taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and served as an editor of the Danish design magazine Mobilia from 1956–62 and 1968–74. In 1974, Jalk curated a traveling design exhibition for the Danish Foreign Ministry and was named a member of the Danish Design Council in 1981. She was also the editor of 40 Years of Danish Furniture Design: The Copenhagen Cabinet-makers' Guild Exhibitions 1927–1966, published in 1987.
Jalk passed away in 2006 at the age of 86. In 2008, Danish furniture manufacturer Lange Production was granted exclusive rights to reproduce the GJ chair, a design as fresh and original today as ever.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Grete Jalk seating, tables and storage pieces.
Grete Jalk Model 118 Lounge Chair for France & Son, Denmark, 1950s, MCM
By France & Søn, Grete Jalk
Located in München, BY
Dimensions: 73 x 75 x 77 cm (Width x Height x Depth) A sculptural Danish Mid-Century Modern lounge chair designed by Grete Jalk for France & Son. Known as Model 118, this elegan...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
Grete Jalk for France and Sons Mid Century Danish Teak Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Grete Jalk for France and Sons Mid Century Danish Teak Lounge Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 28.5 wide x 31.5 deep x 32.5 high, with a seat height of 17 and arm height/chair cle...
Upholstery, Teak
1950s Vintage Danish Teak Armchair by Grete Jalk for France and Daverkosen
By Grete Jalk, France & Daverkosen
Located in Wesseling, DE
Beautiful vintage armchair by Grete Jalk, model 118 for France & Daverkosen.This elegant armchair comes from the first production series dating back to 1955. It features a high-q...
Fabric, Teak
Grete Jalk, Lounge Chair, Tubular Steel, Rattan, Denmark, 1952
By Grete Jalk, Laurids Lonborg
Located in High Point, NC
A rare black-lacquered tubular steel and rattan lounge chair designed by Grete Jalk in 1952 and produced by Laurids Lønborg, Denmark, 1950s. Missmatched caps on front lets, one in r...
Steel
Model 118 armchair by Grete Jalk for France & Søn in teak and black leather
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in Lejre, DK
Model 118 armchair designed by Danish furniture architect Grete Jalk and manufactured by France & Søn during the 1960s. Crafted in teak with black leather upholstery, the chair r...
Leather, Teak
Danish Modern Teak Sofa by Grete Jalk for France and Son, 1960s
By Grete Jalk, France & Søn
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A true icon of mid-century modern design, this exceptional sofa by Grete Jalk for France & Son, crafted in Denmark during the 1960s, exemplifies the elegance and craftsmanship of...
Fabric, Teak
$2,513 / set
Rare pair of Danish modern fumed oak side chairs
By Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, Grete Jalk
Located in DK
This rarely seen pair of side chairs (model 3-1) in slightly fumed oak was designed ca. 1956 by Danish designer Grete Jalk (1920-2006). These examples were executed by Poul Jeppesen,...
Oak
Pj4 Arm Chairs in Teak and Leather by Grete Jalk for Poul Jeppesen Denmark 1960s
By Grete Jalk
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautifully refinished pair of PJ4 armchairs designed by Grete Jalk and produced by Poul Jeppesen, Denmark, in the 1960s. These iconic mid‑century chairs showcase Jalk’s refined Sc...
Teak, Upholstery
Grete Jalk Model 118 Lounge Chair for France & Son, Denmark, 1950s, MCM
By France & Søn, Grete Jalk
Located in München, BY
Dimensions: 73 x 75 x 77 cm (Width x Height x Depth) A sculptural Danish Mid-Century Modern lounge chair designed by Grete Jalk for France & Son. Known as Model 118, this elegan...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
Grete Jalk Model 118 Lounge Chair for France & Son, Denmark, 1950s, MCM
By France & Søn, Grete Jalk
Located in München, BY
Dimensions: 73 x 75 x 77 cm (Width x Height x Depth) A sculptural Danish Mid-Century Modern lounge chair designed by Grete Jalk for France & Son. Known as Model 118, this elegan...
Fabric, Upholstery, Teak
$7,282 / set
Pair of easy chairs in textile by Grete Jalk
By Fritz Hansen, Grete Jalk
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Pair of easy chair in grey 'Hallingdal 65' textile with frame in aluminium. Designed by Grete Jalk and made by Fritz Hansen.
Aluminum
Danish armchair model "118" by Grete Jalk
By France & Daverkosen, Grete Jalk
Located in Brescia, IT
Elegant Danish 1960s teak armchair, an expression of Grete Jalk's organic modernism, with original frame and refined proportions. Iconic armchair model "118" designed by Grete Jalk ...
Teak
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Handsome Teak Grete Jalk 3 Seater Sofa for France and Son
By Grete Jalk
Located in Pemberton, NJ
A Grete Jalk's sculptural sofa for France & Son, this three-seater features sinuously contoured slats that create spectacular lines from all angles. The flared armrests, base and ori...
Upholstery, Teak
Outstanding Grete Jalk Teak Lounge Chair, Midcentury Danish Modern
By Grete Jalk
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Outstanding Grete Jalk teak lounge chair. This chair retain its original orange striped woven fabric in nice vintage condition-some light spots-cleaning recommended. Very usable as i...
Upholstery, Teak
Pair of Grete Jalk Teak Lounge Chairs for France & Søn
By Grete Jalk
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
An iconic and beautifully refined pair of Danish teak lounge chairs designed by Grete Jalk for France & Søn, circa 1960s. Known for her elegant, humanist approach to modernism, J...
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Grete Jalk, PJ56 Highback Model, c1960s
By Grete Jalk, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in Chino Hills, CA
For sale is an iconic mid-century modern lounge chair crafted by the renowned Danish designer, Grete Jalk, for Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik. This is the highly sought-after PJ56 high b...
Leather, Teak
Danish Grete Jalk Model PJ56 Teak Lounge Chair For Poul Jeppesen Mobelfabrik
By Grete Jalk
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
Rarely seen design by Grete Jalk for Poul Jeppesen Mobelfabrik. Very similar to her excellent design for France & Son (which we also have listed for sale) but with a little more scu...
Teak
Mid-Century Dining Chairs by Grete Jalk for Sibast
By Sibast, Grete Jalk, George Tanier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four wide seat dining chairs by Grete Jalk for Sibast. Made of oak wood with a distinct arched back plank with oval cutout. The seat is "floating" over the long tapered legs a...
Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood, Oak
$6,431
Two Seater by Grete Jalk
By Grete Jalk
Located in Copenhagen, DK
2-Seater sofa in black leather and legs in rosewood. Grete Jalk / Johannes Hansen.
Rosewood
High Back Upholstered Settee by Grete Jalk for Johannes Hansen
By Johannes Hansen, Grete Jalk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An early Grete Jalk designed settee featuring a high back on squared legs with a tight and tailored pale brick upholstery. Crafted by Johannes Hansen in Denmark, circa 1950s. Work...
Upholstery, Teak
Mid 20th Century Grete Jalk for France & Sons 4 Seater Danish Modern Sofa
By Grete Jalk
Located in Wheat Ridge, CO
Grete Jalk for France & Sons 4 Seater Danish Modern Teak Sofa circa 1960s. Measurements: 98" wide, 29" deep, 29" high with an arm height of 21", seat height of 16.75", seat widt...
Fabric, Teak
Slatted Bench by Grete Jalk
By Grete Jalk
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Grete Jalk designed teak slat top bench with tapered dowel legs. Working at a time when women were a rarity in the design world, Grete Juel Jalk completed her education at the D...
Teak
$6,259 / set
Grete Jalk tek armchairs
By Grete Jalk
Located in PARIS, FR
Pair of Grete Jalk armchairs Large Model with backrest for the head Completely restored, the fabric is nubuk and the foams have been changed Armchair of a very beautiful estheticism,...
Fabric, Wood