Finn Juhl (1912–89) is often credited with having played a pivotal role in the excitement around Danish modern design that swept through the United States during the 1950s. Juhl’s sculptural Chieftain chair, which he designed in 1949, was considered a renewal of Danish design traditions and is a long-celebrated milestone in the furniture maker’s legacy. Mid-century Scandinavian design emphasized warm woods, gentle lines and subtle curves, and while Juhl designed the Chieftain chair with those high standards in mind, modern art was his biggest inspiration.
Years before Juhl completed the Chieftain chair — his most desired piece of furniture in a long and groundbreaking career — the Danish designer was frequenting museums and on a path to study art history. Instead, at his father’s request, Juhl pursued a degree in architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. He worked at architect Vilhelm Lauritzen’s firm, collaborated on chairs with cabinetmaker Niels Vodder and opened his own practice in 1945.
Along with a group of other young Danish craftsmen such as Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, Juhl sought to reawaken the idea of design in their country, pioneering the use of teak in furniture making and going on to create expressive, experimental pieces like the Chieftain.
Juhl’s award-winning Chieftain chair, upholstered in leather with its high back and organically curving armrests, is an imposing piece that dominates in both size and extravagance, but also requires a significant amount of space around it. “Perhaps I had a vague idea for some time that I wanted to design something bigger,” Juhl said of the teak chair, the form of which references Egyptian furniture and tribal art.
The original armchair was in production for a very short period at Baker Furniture and elsewhere over the years. It was relaunched in 2002 by House of Finn Juhl / One Collection. Original versions of the beloved Chieftain chair rarely sell for less than six figures at auction.
Original Finn Juhl NV-53 Lounge Chair
By Niels Vodder, Finn Juhl
Located in San Francisco, CA
Original Finn Juhl design NV-53 lounge chair for Niels Vodder, Denmark. Sophisticated and elegant looking chair with sculpted solid teak arms and frame produced by Niels Vodder in 19...
Upholstery, Teak
Finn Juhl Diplomat Armchairs Model 196, France and Søn, 1960s, Rare Find!
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in Bochum, NRW
Pair of Armchairs Designed by Finn Juhl for France and Søn, 1960s This is a superb pair of armchairs, model 196, in solid teak frames. They were designed by the famous Danish archite...
Upholstery, Wood
$18,590Sale Price / set|20% Off
Finn Juhl Bwana chairs in teak and leather France & Son 1960s
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful pair of Bwana armchairs by Finn Juhl. These armchairs are real sculptures that have been meticulously designed by the man who is considered the greatest designer of the Sca...
Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl Model 133 "Spade" Lounge Chair by France & Son
By Finn Juhl
Located in Vigevano, PV
Finn Juhl Model 133 "Spade" Lounge Chair by France & Son
Fabric, Teak
$9,876 / set
H 30.71 in W 29.14 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Spade Chairs by Finn Juhl for France & Daverkosen, Denmark, 1953
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Spade armchairs model 133 designed in 1953 by Finn Juhl, Denmark. Old edition from France & Daverkosen with original leather cushions and springs, teak wood structure.
Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl NV 48 Chair for Niels Vodder Mid Century
By Niels Vodder, Finn Juhl
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An iconic example of mid-century modern design, this Finn Juhl No. 48 open armchair dates to the 1950s and was manufactured by Baker Furniture, USA, one of the few American firms lic...
Teak
$6,050
H 27.5 in W 71 in D 29 in
Finn Juhl's Japan Sofa, three seater France & Son Production, Teak and Leather
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in Seattle, WA
FInn Juhl Japan Sofa, three seater, designed by Finn Juhl for France & Son, 1960 production. Recently reupholstered in aniline olive leather, with...
Leather, Teak
$1,667
H 31.89 in W 26.78 in D 20.87 in
Diplomat 209 Armchair in Rosewood & Black Leather by Finn Juhl for France & Son
By Finn Juhl, France & Søn
Located in Lejre, DK
Finn Juhl Diplomat 209 armchair by France & Son in rosewood and black leather. Danish design classic from the 1960s. — Origin: Denmark — Designer: Finn Juhl — Manufacturer: Fran...
Leather, Rosewood
$2,037Sale Price|30% Off
H 30 in W 27 in D 23 in
Finn Juhl FD 112 Armchair Lounge, Rosewood, Cado, France & Søn, 1960s, Denmark
By Finn Juhl, Cado, France & Søn
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Finn Juhl FD 112 Armchair Lounge, Rosewood, Cado, France & Søn, 1960s, Denmark. Arms are removable. You can use as armless lounge as well. (See final pho...
Textile, Rosewood
Finn Juhl Delegate's Chair
By Finn Juhl, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Highland, IN
We feel that Finn Juhl's delegate's chair (or FJ51) is one of his most under appreciated designs. Perhaps overshadowed by the sexy #45 chair, with which it shares many qualities, it ...
Teak, Upholstery
Original Finn Juhl NV45 Chair by Niels Vodder Denmark
By Finn Juhl
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic original Finn Juhl NV45 chair in teak by Niels Vodder, Denmark, circa 1950s. This fine example retaining its original two tone wool upholstery. O...
Teak
$24,960Sale Price|35% Off
H 28 in W 28 in D 30 in
Finn Juhl NV-53, Original Rosewood Lounge Chair, Niels Vodder, Denmark, 1953
By Finn Juhl, Niels Vodder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Finn Juhl NV-53, Original Rosewood Lounge Chair, Niels Vodder, Denmark, 1946 Finn Juhl originally designed the 53-series for master joiner Niels Vodder. It was introduced at the Cope...
Brass
$708
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 17.72 in
Danish Collectible Chair "197" Design Finn Juhl for France & Søn, 1960s
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in taranto, IT
Danish collectible chair, model "197", France & Søn production based on a design by Finn Juhl, mid-1960s made on a teak structure, it measures 76 cm in height, 50 cm in width, 45 ...
Faux Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl Spade Chair Model 133 for France & Daverkosen
By Finn Juhl
Located in San Francisco, CA
Finn Juhl design spade chair model 133 for France & Daverkosen, Denmark. Newly refinished teak frame with new cushions upholstered in Danish wool.
Teak
$9,500 / set
H 27.5 in W 26.75 in D 28.5 in
Finn Juhl Danish Mid-Century Modern Japan Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Daverkosen
By France & Daverkosen, Finn Juhl
Located in Stamford, CT
Finn Juhl Danish Mid-Century Modern Japan Lounge Chair and Ottoman, France & Daverkosen, Black Leather Early production Japan Lounge Chair and Ottoman, model 137, c. 1960 designed...
Teak
$11,560 / set
H 35.83 in W 33.86 in D 33.86 in
Bwana Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Finn Juhl, Black Leather, 1962
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Ranst, VAN
This stunning 'Bwana' lounge chair and ottoman is designed by Finn Juhl in 1962 for France & Son. Known for its sleek lines and elegant design, this chair is a perfect example of...
Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl "Chieftain" Lounge Chair
By Finn Juhl
Located in Astoria, NY
Finn Juhl (Danish, 1912-1989) "Chieftain" Lounge Chair, teak wood frame and tan leather upholstery, with "One Collection / Finn Juhl / House of Finn Juhl" label and stamped "Finn Juh...
Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl "Chieftain" Lounge Chair
By Finn Juhl
Located in Astoria, NY
Finn Juhl (Danish, 1912-1989) "Chieftain" Lounge Chair, teak wood frame and tan leather upholstery, with "One Collection / Finn Juhl / House of Finn Juhl" label and stamped "Finn Juh...
Leather, Teak
House of Finn Juhl One Collection Chieftains Chair
By Finn Juhl
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A Beautiful Classic design by Finn Juhl this Chieftains chair is extremely comfortable as well as being as wonderful sculptural object. This example bears the House of Finn Juhl On...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 36.42 in W 39.38 in D 34.65 in
Chieftains Chair Model FJ4900 With Stool Made In Walnut By Finn Juhl
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Lejre, DK
Designed by Finn Juhl in 1949, he invented the chief's chair as we know it today. Produced in walnut wood with cognac leather of the highest quality. The chair has an accompanying st...
Leather, Walnut
Finn Juhl Chieftain Armchair, Walnut and Vegetal Nature Leather
By Finn Juhl
Located in Dronten, NL
Chieftain Chair designed by Finn Juhl in 1949. This example manufactured by House of Finn Juhl in Denmark in 2015. Marked with label and signature underneath the chair. Executed in ...
Leather, Teak
Chieftain Chair by Finn Juhl for Baker Furniture 1997/8 edition
By Finn Juhl, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Seattle, WA
The Chieftain Chair is considered to be one of the most important designs by Finn Juhl. It was first presented at the Cabinetmakers Guild in 1949, and it is said that Denmark's King ...
Walnut, Leather
Finn Juhl Chieftain Chair by Interior Crafts
By Interior Crafts, Finn Juhl
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
This is a beautiful and solid Mahogany version of Finn Juhl’s mighty Chieftain Chair made by Interior Crafts, Chicago, in the 1990s. Production of this chair was commissioned by the ...
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 36.62 in W 40.16 in D 34.65 in
Finn Juhl Chieftain Easy Chair Produced by Cabinetmaker Niels Vodder
By Finn Juhl
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare Chieftain easy chair designed by Finn Juhl. Produced by cabinetmaker Niels Vodder in Denmark.
Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl Pair of Chieftain Chairs by Baker
By Finn Juhl, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Highland, IN
Finn Juhl's 1949 masterpiece, the chieftain chair, employs iconography of tribal forms and Juhl’s innovative approach to design which accentuates the separation of the seat, back, an...
Leather, Walnut
Finn Juhl Chieftain Chair and Ottoman by Baker
By Baker Furniture Company, Finn Juhl
Located in Dallas, TX
This is the most important of Finn Juhl's chair designs. Shown at the Cabinetmakers Guild in 1949, Denmark's King Frederik is claimed to have sat in the chair and so it was called th...
Leather, Teak, Walnut
1950s Teak and Tan Leather Chieftain's Chair by Finn Juhl
By Finn Juhl, Niels Vodder
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Chieftain's chair, teak by Finn Juhl, manufactured by Niels Vodder, Denmark. The powerful design is supported by the size and extravagance of the impressive chieftain's chair. Fin...
Leather, Teak
Finn Juhl Chieftain Armchair Wood and Leather
By Finn Juhl
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Finn Juhl in 1949, relaunched in 2002. Manufactured by House of Finn Juhl in Denmark. The iconic Chieftain Chair is one of Finn Juhl’s absolute masterpieces, re...
Leather, Wood
