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Poul Kjaerholm

Danish, 1929-1980

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.

Average Sold Price
$6,252
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Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Poul Kjærholm
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 22
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 22
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 61
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 61
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 31 3
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 31 3
Pk 31 2
Pk 31 2
4 Poul Kjaerholm PK9 E. Kold Christensen chairs with seat height extensions
By E. Kold Christensen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Highclere, Newbury
A 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 Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Steel

Poul Kjærholm PK-9 Dining Chairs by E. Kold Christensen Brown Leather, Denmark
By E. Kold Christensen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Vienna, AT
Early original 1960's PK9 chairs for E. Kold Christensen (marked), produced circa 1960-1970 This set of 5 chairs will sell individually and are in stunning original condition. They...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Steel

Table PK54 designed by Poul Kjaerholm manufactured by da E. Kold Christensen
By Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold Christensen
Located in Firenze, FI
Round dining table designed by Poul Kjaerholm, model PK54, produced by E. Kold Christensen (Denmark 1963). White marble top with gray veins, chrome-plated steel base with the manufac...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Marble, Steel

Poul Kjærholm Semicircular Table in Steel, Cork and Beech
By Poul Kjærholm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Poul Kjærholm and Nils Fagerholt for PP Møbler, side table with two tabletops, steel, cork, beech, Denmark, 1978. This semi-circular table was desig...
Category

1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Steel

Stainless Steel, Ash, and Leather PK11 Armchair by Poul Kjærholm
By Poul Kjærholm
Located in Dorchester, MA
Poul Kjærholm designed the PK11 chair in 1957 as a matching companion to the PK51 worktable. The PK11 is a complex and beautiful modern chair carried by a three-...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Stainless Steel

Poul Kjærholm 'PK31' Armchair for Fritz Hansen in Aura Leather
By Fritz Hansen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Glendale, CA
Poul Kjærholm 'PK31' Armchair for Fritz Hansen in Aura Leather Established in 1872, Fritz Hansen has become synonymous with legendary Danish design. Combining timeless craftsmanship...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Steel

Poul Kjærholm 'PK31' Armchair for Fritz Hansen in Leather (Cat. 5)
By Fritz Hansen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Glendale, CA
Poul Kjærholm 'PK31' Armchair for Fritz Hansen in Leather (Cat. 5) Established in 1872, Fritz Hansen has become synonymous with legendary Danish design. Combining timeless craftsman...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Steel

Poul Kjærholm 'PK60' Coffee Table for Fritz Hansen in Oregon Pine
By Fritz Hansen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Glendale, CA
Poul Kjærholm 'PK60' Coffee Table for Fritz Hansen in Oregon Pine. Established in 1872, Fritz Hansen has become synonymous with legendary Danish design. Combining timeless craftsman...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Poul Kjaerholm

Materials

Glass, Pine

Browse all Furniture from Poul Kjaerholm
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Creators Similar to Poul Kjærholm

More Poul Kjærholm Designs
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 22
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 22
Average Price
$7,033
Number Available
31
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 22
By Poul Kjærholm
Materials
Metal, Animal Skin, Leather, Steel, Natural Fiber
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
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 lea...
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Poul Kjaerholm Pk 61
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 61
Average Price
$9,311
Number Available
20
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 61
By Poul Kjærholm
Materials
Metal, Steel, Stone, Glass, Marble
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
Shop All
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 31 3
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 31 3
Average Price
$22,255
Number Available
11
Poul Kjaerholm Pk 31 3
By Poul Kjærholm
Materials
Animal Skin, Leather, Metal
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
Shop All
Pk 31 2
Pk 31 2
Average Price
$12,064
Number Available
10
Pk 31 2
By Poul Kjærholm
Materials
Animal Skin, Leather, Metal, Steel
Styles
Scandinavian Modern
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Poul Kjærholm furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Poul Kjærholm furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Poul Kjærholm furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 248 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 19 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Poul Kjærholm were created in the Scandinavian Modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Ib Kofod-Larsen, France & Søn, and Illum Wikkelsø. Prices for Poul Kjærholm furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $300 and can go as high as $207,921, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,166.

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