Poul Kjaerholm "PK24" Chaise Lounge Chair Produced by E Kold Christensen Denmark
About the Item
- Creator:E. Kold Christensen (Maker),Poul Kjærholm (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 33.47 in (85 cm)Width: 23.63 in (60 cm)Depth: 61.03 in (155 cm)Seat Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5488233891152
PK24 Lounge Chair
At first glance, the sleek, minimal shape of the PK24 lounge chair might appear to have little in common with the ornate, carved wood chaise longues of the French Rococo period, but that was indeed the inspiration for Poul Kjærholm's design. As Kjærholm (1929–80) proved, reinterpreting a design that was perhaps the furthest possible thing from the principles of modernism was a monumental demonstration of his mastery of them.
Kjærholm referred to his PK24 lounge chair as the “hammock chair.” He assigned numerals to all of his furniture to indicate their place in a specific series and type of furnishing, while his preceding initials were added after his death. There were many chairs, such as the PK22, as well as tables, sofas and more, although the PK24 is arguably Kjærholm’s most recognizable chair.
After training as a carpenter and graduating from Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Kjærholm went on to devise a series of boundary-pushing furniture pieces for his friend Ejvind Kold Christensen, who produced them under the name E. Kold Christensen in Hellerup, Denmark. The partnership was somewhat of an artist’s dream, with Christensen granting his friend near total artistic freedom. It paid off: By 1960, Kjærholm had twice been awarded the Grand Prize at the Milan Triennale.
While many of Kjærholm’s contemporaries associated with Scandinavian modernism were opting for wood as their primary medium, the designer experimented with mixed materials and favored metal for his frames.
For the PK24 lounge chair, designed in 1965, Kjærholm created a sinuous seat of woven wicker that he topped with a leather bolster cushion and placed on a frame of stainless steel. By doing so, he showcased each of the chair’s parts as separate pieces, all rendered in the material that best suited them, instead of in one, compromised but unifying selection. Additionally, Kjærholm omitted any joinery or connective part between the seat and frame, which made each element literally separate. This leaves the chair’s support entirely at the whim of gravity, a choice that further underscores the precision of his design and the connection between body and chair implied by its support. The gracefully balanced seat appears to float in midair over its minimal frame.
In 1982, Fritz Hansen took over production of a number of Kjærholm’s furniture pieces, including the PK24 lounge chair. (Kjærholm worked briefly at Fritz Hansen in the 1950s before partnering with E. Kold Christensen.) The manufacturer’s version is offered in three leather options in addition to the original wicker, which is in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Stockholm, Sweden
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Poul Kjaerholm "PK33" Stools Produced by E Kold Christensen Denmark, 1960sBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Stockholm, SEVery rare and great pair of "PK33" stools in brown original leather designed by Poul Kjærholm produced by E. Kold Christensen in Denmark 1960s. In great condition with patina from ag...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
MaterialsSteel
- Bruno Mathsson Mid Century Lounge Chair "Model 36" Produced in Sweden, 1940sBy Bruno Mathsson, Firma Karl MathssonLocated in Stockholm, SERare lounge chair model " Vilstol 36" designed by Bruno Mathsson and produced by Firma Karl Mathsson i Värnamo, Sweden. Original condition with a newer cushion upholstery. Original w...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Paper
- Danish Easy Armchair in Pine and Flagline in style of Poul Kjaerholm, 1960sBy Poul KjærholmLocated in Stockholm, SERare mid century easy armchair in pine and flagline in style of Poul Kjærholm produced in Denmark, 1960s. in good original condition. Dimensions: H: 70 cm / 27.55" W: 51 cm / 20" D...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRope, Pine
- Arne Vodder Mid Century Chaise Lounge in Ash & Leather by Bovirke Denmark, 1950sBy Bovirke, Arne VodderLocated in Stockholm, SEVery rare mid century chaise lounge chair in ash and brown original and patinated leather by Arne Vodder produced by Bovirke, Den...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsLeather, Ash
- Pair of Poul Kjaerholm PK15 Dining Office Chairs in Ash & Leather by PP MøblerBy PP Møbler, Poul KjærholmLocated in Stockholm, SERare pair of Poul Kjærholm "PK15" dining office chairs in ash and brown leather upholstered seats. In good condition with light patina from age and use. Both chairs were produced by ...Category
1990s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Ash
- Early Poul Kjaerholm "PK52" Working Desk in Steel and Oregon Pine, 1950sBy Poul KjærholmLocated in Stockholm, SEVery rare and early student working desk model "PK52" in black lacquered steel and oregon pine top and black stained drawer and storage on the opposite side. Produced in Denmark by Rud. Rasmussen Snedkerier 1950s. Good original condition with patina from age and use. Acquired from a Belgian private collection of important Poul Kjærholm furniture...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsIron
- Chaise Lounge Model PK24 Designed by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold ChristensenBy Poul Kjærholm, E. Kold ChristensenLocated in Dronten, NLPK24 chaise longue by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen. This piece is part of an important collection of early Kjaerholm pieces c...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Poul Kjaerholm PK24 Kold Christensen Chaise LonguesBy Poul KjærholmLocated in Oosterbeek, NLPoul Kjaerholm PK24 Kold Christensen from the 1970s. Black leather cushion with nice patinated wicker. Good vintage condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsMetal
- Chaise Lounge Model PK24 Designed by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold ChristensenBy Poul KjærholmLocated in Stockholm, SEChaise longue model PK24 designed by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen, Denmark, 1965 Stainless steel, cane and leather. Provenance: 20th Century Marks, Westerham Acquired fro...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen PK 24 Chaise, circa 1960sBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated 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, PK20 lounge chair for E. Kold ChristensenBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Munster, NRWFirst edition of the PK20 lounge chair, a graceful, elegant masterpiece created in 1968 by Danish designer Poul Kjaerholm for Ejvind Kold Christensen. It consist of an aesthetic cant...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- PK20 Lounge Chair by Poul Kjaerholm, E. Kold Christensen, 1968By E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Lyon, FRRare early edition Danish lounge chair by Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen. Steel structure with leather seat. Signed under the seat. Model low back chair, very rare.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel