Poul Kjaerholm for E Kold Christensen Chair, Model PK-22 in Cane, 1950s
View Similar Items
Poul Kjaerholm for E Kold Christensen Chair, Model PK-22 in Cane, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Poul Kjærholm (Designer),E. Kold Christensen (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 24.75 in (62.87 cm)Depth: 27 in (68.58 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Houston, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU85066401453
Poul Kjærholm
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.
E. Kold Christensen
Founded in Hellerup, Denmark, by entrepreneur Ejvind Kold Christensen, furniture manufacturer E. Kold Christensen was instrumental in advancing the career of Poul Kjærholm, a revered Danish cabinetmaker who brought a graceful and sleek new style to Scandinavian design.
Christensen and Kjærholm formed not only a close friendship but also a fruitful business partnership that endured for decades. The company produced most of Kjærholm’s acclaimed armchairs, stools and lounge chairs — which were often framed in brushed steel and upholstered in leather — until Kjærholm’s death in 1980.
Christensen began his career as a sales manager for the furniture manufacturer Carl Hansen & Søn. In the late 1940s, Christensen introduced the young Hans Wegner to Carl’s son, Holger Hansen — who was by then running his family’s legendary company — after recognizing the potential of this new designer. Wegner, Hansen and Christensen solidified their partnership by forming SALESCO — a marketing company with the sole purpose of promoting Wegner’s now universally celebrated body of work.
In the mid-1950s, Christensen partnered with promising designer Kjærholm — their pairing was the result of Wegner recommending that Christensen help develop Kjærholm (Wegner had been a teacher of Kjærholm’s at what is now the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts). Christensen established his eponymous company with the singular goal of manufacturing his friend’s works.
E. Kold Christensen’s founder offered Kjærholm the room he needed to explore the structural potential of steel in furniture-making — he created forward-looking seating, tables and other pieces that reflected the influence of modernist designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich rather than the output of his Scandinavian peers, who worked primarily with wood. (Kjærholm would later experiment with wood during the 1970s.)
The refined PK22 chair, a lounger made of steel with a seat of leather or canvas has over time been compared to Mies and Reich’s Barcelona chair and is a fine example of Kjærholm’s mid-century innovations for E. Kold Christensen. It was an instant commercial success — launching both the designer's and manufacturer's careers. Later, Kjærholm’s iconic PK24 chair merged stainless steel, leather and a sinuous seat of woven wicker, while his PK61 coffee table offered a fanciful, off-center support structure for its glass top. By 1960, Kjærholm had twice been awarded the Grand Prize at the Milan Triennale.
In the 1980s, E. Kold Christensen sold the production rights to a range of Kjærholm’s work to Fritz Hansen, where the designer had incidentally worked for a short time in the early 1950s (the company now has rights to the complete collection) . Many of Kjærholm’s works are part of collections at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, while museums in Norway, Denmark, Germany and Sweden also have his works — each produced by E. Kold Christensen — in their permanent collections.
On 1stDibs, find vintage E. Kold Christensen chairs, tables, lighting and more.
- Poul Kjærholm PK 33 Stool for E. Kold Christensen, Original Condition, 1959By Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Houston, TXPoul Kjærholm, original condition. PK 33 stool. E. Kold Christensen, Denmark, 1959. Matte, chrome-plate spring steel with patinated, laminated wood...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen PK 24 Chaise, circa 1960sBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Houston, TXPoul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen chaise Model PK 24 Made in Denmark, circa 1960s Handwoven cane, stainless steel, counterweight custom leather head rest.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Poul Kjaerholm PK 54 Dining Table E. Kold ChristensenBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Houston, TXPoul Kjaerholm PK 54 dining table with extension leaves E. Kold Christensen Denmark, 1960s flint-rolled marble, chrome-plated steel Measures: 5...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMarble, Steel
- Eero Saarinen vintage Womb Chair and Ottoman for KnollBy Knoll, Eero SaarinenLocated in Houston, TXEero Saarinen Knoll International USA 1946 upholstery, painted steel chair: 35 h × 41 w × 35 d inches Vintage Eero Saarinen womb chair and ottoman for Knoll...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Early version Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair and Ottoman for Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Houston, TXArne Jacobsen Chair and ottoman Fritz Hansen Denmark, 1958 Leather, cast aluminum, plastic 34 d x 32 d x 42 h inches Foil label to base.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- Afra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana lounge chair and ottoman for CassinaBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Houston, TXAfra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana lounge chair and ottoman Cassina Italy, 1970s leather, chrome-plated steel, plastic chair: 26 h × 36 w × 52 d in ottoman: 15 h × 31 w × 36 d in Match...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
- PK22 in Cane by Poul Kjærholm for E Kold ChristensenBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Saint Paul, MNThis is a rare early edition PK22 by famed Danish designer, Poul Kjærholm. Manufactured by Ejvind Kold Christensen, this model long predates any current models available from Fritz Hansen. Kjærholm's designs are know for their architectural nature and the PK22 is no different. The bent steel legs and frame serve as the framework for delicately woven cane whose warmth is a juxtaposition to the sterility of the steel. The cane is perfectly patinated and pairs well with the oxidized steel frame that is missing some of the finish. This is a true collector's item that can be used for many years. Confluence...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjærholm for E. Kold Christensen Pair of 'PK20' Lounge Chairs in LeatherBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Waalwijk, NLPoul Kjærholm for E. Kold Christensen, pair of lounge chairs model 'PK20', leather, chrome-plated steel, Denmark, 1968 A highly modern design that embraces clear lines and curvaceous shapes. A cantilever chair is all about ease and comfort as it provides the characteristic bending function, and together with the high backrest and head cushion, a pleasant seating experience is guaranteed. Kjærholm used chrome-plated steel for the base and black leather for the seating, materials that fit within the modernistic aesthetics of this chair. Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980) was a Danish designer and cabinetmaker. He had a particular interest in different construction materials; especially steel which he considered a natural material with the same artistic fineness as other natural materials. Poul Kjaerholm was employed at Fritz Hansen for about a year, where he designed a number of noteworthy chair prototypes. In 1955 Poul Kjærholm initiated his collaboration with manufacturer Ejvind Kold Christensen, which lasted until Poul Kjærholm's death in 1980. In 1982, Fritz Hansen took over the production and sales of "The Kjærholm Collection", developed from 1951 to 1967, designs, which are logical to the minute detail with an aura of exclusivity. In 2007 Fritz Hansen added two new pieces to the Kjærholm Collection. Pieces that were never in production before, the PK8...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- 1956, Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen, PK22 Lounge ChairsBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NLThis item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach,...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjærholm Pair of PK22 for E. Kold ChristensenBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Copenhagen, DKPoul Kjærholm two PK22 in dull chromium plated steel and cane. Executed by E. Kold Christensen, Denmark.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjaerholm Pair of PK22 for E. Kold ChristensenBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Copenhagen, DKPoul Kjaerholm pair of PK22 easy chairs in dull chromium-plated steel and cane. Executed by E. Kold Christensen, Denmark.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$12,973 / set - Poul Kjaerholm & E Kold Christensen 'PK27' Leather ChairBy Poul KjærholmLocated in Los Angeles, CAPoul Kjaerholm & E Kold Christensen 'PK27' chair in molded plywood and maple veneer, with brown leather upholstery. From Denmark, 1971.Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Chairs
MaterialsLeather
Price Upon Request