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.
$6,274Sale Price / set|25% Off
Grete Jalk Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Design Teak Bookcases, 1950s
By Grete Jalk, Poul Jeppesens Møbelfabrik
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern design teak bookcases set designed by Grete Jalk and produced by P. Jeppesens Møbelfabrik, movable vertical partition...
Teak
Danish Mid-Century Bookcase by Grete Jalk for P. Jeppesen, Denmark 1950s
By Poul Jeppesen, Grete Jalk
Located in Utrecht, NL
This lovely bookcase designed by Grete Jalk for P. Jeppesen reflects the Danish designer’s aesthetic—clean and highly functional, yet creative. Danish mid-century pieces were often ...
Wood
Brazilian Rosewood Slender Edged Bookcase from Royal Danish Embassy
By Grete Jalk
Located in Kensington, MD
From the Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, DC we are pleased to offer this lovely bookcase by Grete Jalk. Incredible figuring in the rosewood grain. Can...
Rosewood
Royal Danish Embassy Slender-Edged Bookcase by Grete Jalk in Brazilian Rosewood
By Grete Jalk
Located in Kensington, MD
From the Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, DC we are pleased to offer this lovely bookcase by Grete Jalk. Incredible figuring in the rosewood grain. Can be placed directly on the f...
Rosewood
$3,400
H 67 in W 18 in D 18 in
Shelving Unit or Bookcase, Modern Chrome Shelving, C 1960, Midcentury Design
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic square, chrome shelving unit from the 1960's. Finished all around. Can be floating in a room for decorative objects. Glass shelves ar...
Chrome
Danish Mid Century Rosewood Bookcase by Farso Møbelfabrik
By Farso Mobelfabrik
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
Elegant Danish mid-century bookcase designed and manufactured by Omann Jun, Model 9. Crafted from richly grained rosewood, this piece showcases the refined craftsmanship and timeless...
Rosewood
$2,111
H 37.41 in W 31.5 in D 12.6 in
Art Deco Mid-Century Modern Bookshelf Bookcase Walnut Turned Restored Shellac
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Art Deco Mid-Century Modern bookshelf bookcase in walnut turned and restored and shellac polished Measures console cm: H 95, W 80, D 32.
Walnut
Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Bookcase
Located in Tulsa, OK
**Please Read Entire Description** Please view all listing pictures on a laptop if possible. Some cell phones don’t display all listing pictures and some could be pictures relating to condition. Please read all the way down through this entire description box to view the entire description of the item. Please keep in mind that these are 40-75 year old items and will have some expected normal wear. We strive to represent our items well, and most of these items are in above average vintage condition. Noticeable flaws will be represented in the listing pictures and the text but we cannot describe or picture every small scratch, ding, or area of slight wear. Once delivered, furniture CANNOT be refused, returned, or refunded unless damage has occurred in the shipping process. Our shipper takes care to wrap each item and pack it safely therefore we have rarely had any issues with damage in transit. All items must be picked up within 3 weeks of order if buyer secures his own shipper. Shipping usually requires 3-6 weeks delivery through our shipping contacts and is only available in the continental US for large furniture items. Some smaller items are available to be shipped internationally through USPS/UPS. * * * Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Bookcase...
Teak
$11,200
H 28.15 in W 27.37 in D 9.85 in
Rosewood Wall Bookshelf by Celina Decorações, Brazilian Mid-Century, 1960s
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
This charming bookshelf, manufactured by Celina Decorações in the 1960s, is composed of a solid wood structure with Rosewood veneers. The piece is co...
Rosewood
$2,974
H 50.4 in W 54.34 in D 11.82 in
Danish Rosewood Bookcase with LP Rack made by Hundevad & Co, 1960s
By Hundevad & Co.
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Bookcase with LP/magazine rack Danish bookcase in beautiful rosewood veneer with LP/Magazine rack made by Hundevad & Co. The horizontal shelves can be adjusted in height. Overall th...
Rosewood
Midcentury Modern Danish Design Rosewood Bookcase, 1960s
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Bookcase Danish design midcentury moder bookcase in beautiful rosewood veneer. Unfortunately, we were unable to identify the designer and maker of the quality cabinet. But that does ...
Rosewood
$2,312
H 55.12 in W 47.25 in D 11.42 in
Danish Design Rosewood Bookcase Model 5 by Omann Jun Mobelfabrik, 1960s
By Omann Jun Møbelfabrik
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design bookcase, Model 5 in beautiful rosewood veneer by Gunni Omann for Omann Jun Mobelfabrik A/S. The brand sticker can be found on the back. What's special about this midc...
Rosewood
Mid-Century Scandinavian Teak Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century Scandinavian teak bookcase with 4 wide & 3 tall shelves centering a teak panel with inset black oval designs on four cylindrical tapered legs (Related items: 061117, 061119)
Unique Folding Bookcase in Rosewood
By J. Ingvard Jensen Odense, Odense Møbelfabrik
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Scandinavian Danish Modern at its finest. Likely unique piece as we have found no other example. Rosewood with brass hinges and circular inserts pulls on either side. Box shape 20'' cubed looks beautiful with striking rosewood grain. Each of there 4 shelves are just shy of 9'' tall. Brilliant design when folded upright reveals an angled bookcase...
Brass
$2,276
H 60.63 in W 42.52 in D 12.21 in
Midcentury Modern Danish High Rosewood Bookcase by Hundevad & Co, 1960s
By Hundevad & Co.
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish bookcase in beautiful rosewood veneer. Designed by Carlo Jensen and made by Hundevad & Co. A Hundevad bookcase can always be recognized by the planks that are beveled. This b...
Rosewood
Mid-Century Modern Danish Modern Poul Hundevad Style Teak Bookcase
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid-Century Modern Danish Modern Poul Hundevad Style Teak Bookcase Offered is a piece of time and design: a teak bookcase. It looks like the design of Poul Hundevad. Includes five a...
Teak
Sold
H 75.2 in W 39.18 in D 11.03 in
Grete Jalk Rosewood Midcentury Bookcase for J.H. Johansens, Denmark, 1960s
By Grete Jalk
Located in Utrecht, NL
This rare bookcase was made early 1960s by cabinetmaker J.H. Johansens Eftf. v/ Henning Jensen and was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition at the Designmuseum...
Wood