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.
Henning Kjærnulf sideboard in rosewood. Denmark 1960s
By Sibast, Grete Jalk
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Henning Kjærnulf sideboard of rosewood. Drawers and doors where behind shelves. Made by Sibast.
Rosewood
$5,140
H 30.91 in W 78.55 in D 19.89 in
Low Brutalist Oak Sideboard by Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
This low sideboard is attributed to Henning Kjærnulf and dates from the 1960s. The solid oak case is fitted with four doors, each centred on a deep, hand-carved roundel, a detail cha...
Brass
$8,800
H 47.25 in W 83.47 in D 19.69 in
Henning Kjærnulf, Oak Sideboard, Danish Mid-Century, Nyrup Møbelfabrik, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Nyrup Møbelfabrik
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful and sculptural sideboard in solid oak, designed by Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf for Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Denmark, during the 1960s. The sideboard features a beautifully carved...
Oak
$5,699
H 31.7 in W 86.62 in D 18.31 in
Title: Danish Oak Sideboard Attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Elegant Danish low sideboard from the 1960s, attributed to Henning Kjærnulf. Crafted in solid oak, the piece features a timeless rectangular silhouette with clean architectural lines...
Oak
$4,580
H 35.83 in W 88.98 in D 19.49 in
Danish Mid Century, Low Brutalist Sideboard in Oak, Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Henning Kjærnulf, Kurt Østervig
Located in Odense, DK
A charming low-profile sideboard crafted in oak and designed in the style of Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s. The piece features beautifully sculpted cabinet fronts with geometric d...
Brass
$3,880
H 36.23 in W 88.19 in D 19.3 in
Danish Mid Century, Low Modern Sideboard in Oak, Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Kurt Østervig, Henning Kjærnulf, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
A charming low-profile sideboard crafted in oak and designed in the style of Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s. The piece features beautifully sculpted cabinet fronts with geometric d...
Brass
$5,800
H 50.01 in W 77.56 in D 19.69 in
Henning Kjærnulf, Oak Sideboard, Danish Mid-Century, Nyrup Møbelfabrik, 1960s
By Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Henning Kjærnulf, Hans J. Wegner, Arne Vodder
Located in Odense, DK
A sculptural Danish Modern sideboard / credenza designed by Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf for Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. Crafted in solid oak, the piece features the designer’s ch...
Brass
Low Sideboard in Solid Oak by Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Low sideboard in solid oak, designed by Henning Kjærnulf in the 1960s. The piece features a refined Brutalist expression with four doors and round metal handles. Inside, the cabinet ...
Oak
Danish Oak Sideboard Credenza by Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
A Danish oak sideboard credenza by Henning Kjærnulf, produced in Denmark during the 1960s. Constructed throughout in pale, limed oak with pronounced ray figuring — doors, carcass, an...
Brass
$4,540
H 35.24 in W 82.29 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Modern Low Sideboard in Oak, Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
A sculptural oak sideboard in the Scandinavian Modern tradition, handcrafted by a Danish cabinetmaker during the 1960s. This Mid-Century Modern storage cabinet combines Brutalist-ins...
Brass
$9,800
H 45.28 in W 79.53 in D 18.12 in
Sideboard in Oak & Brass by Henning Kjærnulf, Danish Mid Century Modern, 1960s
By Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant and well-proportioned oak sideboard with brass detailing by Henning (Henry) Kjærnulf for Nyrup Møbelfabrik, Denmark, 1960s. A fine example of Danish Mid-Century Modern cra...
Brass
$2,710
H 31.5 in W 59.85 in D 17.13 in
Mid-Century Modern Danish Brutalist Oak Sideboard, Henning Kjærnulf Style, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
This exceptional Mid-Century Modern Danish oak sideboard is a masterful piece of Scandinavian design from the 1960s, heavily embodying the iconic Brutalist style popularized by archi...
Brass
$4,810
H 45.28 in W 79.53 in D 18.12 in
Danish Modern, Sideboard in Oak & Brass by Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern sideboard in oak and brass by Henning Kjærnulf, dating from the 1960s. The long cabinet has four doors with strongly figured oak fronts, framed by darker-to...
Brass
$4,673
H 35.24 in W 82.29 in D 19.69 in L 35.24 in
Danish Brutalist Oak Sideboard Attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Rødding, DK
A sculptural oak sideboard attributed to Henning Kjærnulf, Denmark, 1960s, combining Danish Modern cabinetmaking with strong Brutalist proportions and beautifully figured oak through...
Brass
Henning Kjærnulf Brutalist Oak Sideboard, Denmark, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Low Brutalist sideboard designed by Henning Kjærnulf and produced in Denmark during the 1960s. Crafted in oak, the piece features a bold, sculptural design that reflects the distinct...
Oak
$4,800
H 45.67 in W 81.5 in D 18.9 in
Henning Kjærnulf for EG Møbler, Solid Oak Sideboard, Danish Modern, 1960s
By Arne Vodder, Hans J. Wegner, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful mid-century sideboard designed by Henry Kjærnulf for EG Kvalitetsmøbel, crafted in solid oak during the 1960s–70s. This piece exemplifies the refined Scandinavian design ...
Oak
Rare Grete Jalk for Sibast Sideboard in Teak
By Sibast, Grete Jalk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Grete Jalk for Sibast, sideboard, model '41', teak, Denmark, 1958 This large cabinet by Danish designer Grete Jalk is exemplary for refined, highly detailed and very well-made furni...
Teak
Sold
H 30.32 in W 71.66 in D 18.9 in
Danish teak sideboard model 41 by Grete Jalk for P.Olsen Sibast Mobler 1960.
By Sibast, Grete Jalk
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb Scandinavian sideboard. Two large sliding doors, known as "tavern" or "roll-top" doors, made of thin wooden slats that allow the doors to retract into the cabinet. They open t...
Teak
Mid Century Danish Teak Sideboard by Grete Jalk
By Grete Jalk
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Mid Century Danish Teak Sideboard by Grete Jalk A Model 41 Teak tambour door sideboard designed by Grate Jalk and produced by Sibast in the 1960’s in Denmark and retailed in the UK t...
Teak
Grete Jalk Tambour Cabinet for Sibast Mobler
By Grete Jalk
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautifully grained tambour door cabinet designed by Grete Jalk for Sibast Mobler.
Grete Jalk Tambour Credenza
By Grete Jalk, Helge Sibast
Located in Oakland, CA
Sideboard designed by Grete Jalk for P. Olsen Sibast, model #41, features pair of drawers above double tambour doors with adjustable interior shelves.