Scandinavian Modern Poul Kjærholm PK 22 Vintage Black Leather Chair
View Similar Items
Scandinavian Modern Poul Kjærholm PK 22 Vintage Black Leather Chair
About the Item
- Creator:Fritz Hansen (Manufacturer),Poul Kjærholm (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 27.96 in (71 cm)Width: 25.2 in (64 cm)Depth: 24.41 in (62 cm)Seat Height: 14.18 in (36 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1989
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Hillringsberg, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4154119897362
PK22 Chair
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 leather welted cushions. Kjærholm’s pieces balanced precise lines of stainless steel with leather, rope and wicker, each selected with a consideration of how they age. As the organic materials take on imperfections and wear, their patina contrasts with the enduring strength of the steel.
The PK22 chair followed the PK25 lounge chair — completed by Kjærholm while he was studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen — and reflected his evolving approach to design. Whereas the PK25 involved a single steel piece with a rope seat, the PK22 chair offered a simpler shape. Its two leg pieces bend into feet and are connected by two crossbars that curve downward to support a rectangle of leather or woven cane. This allows a person to rest without feeling the metal on the seat or the front edge, and it also makes for easy disassembling.
Because every element of the PK22 chair’s spare construction is visible, Kjærholm considered its aesthetics down to its exposed joints. Its immediate commercial success fueled Kjærholm’s career, and Fritz Hansen continues to manufacture the chair today.
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.
- Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs in Grey/Black Sheepskin Shearling Sweden, 1940By Carl MalmstenLocated in Hillringsberg, SEPair of Swedish modern lounge chairs, with the typical look of its time. These ones are fully restored and reupholstered with black/grey sheepskin - Shearling. Beautiful to look at a...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSheepskin, Birch
- Scandinavian Lounge Chair Esko Pajamies “Pele” for Lepokalusto, Finland, 1970sBy Esko PajamiesLocated in Hillringsberg, SEThis lounge chair was manufactured by the Finnish furniture company, Lahden Lepokalusto Oy in the 1970s. The “Pele” lounge chair by Finnish designe...Category
Vintage 1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSuede, Oak
- Midcentury Modern Sheepskin/Shearling Carl Malmsten "Samspel" Lounge ChairsBy Carl MalmstenLocated in Hillringsberg, SEThis model” Samspel” lounge chairs was designed by Carl Malmsten in 1956 and manufactured during that time at AB Record Bollnäs Sweden. These two chairs have been fully reupholstered...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSheepskin, Birch
- Scandinavian Modern Monumental Poul Henningsen Ph Louvre Pendant LightBy Louis Poulsen, Poul HenningsenLocated in Hillringsberg, SEThis stunning large-scale Poul Henningsen "PH Louvre" pendant lamp for Louis Poulsen pendant is composed of thirteen concentric, stacked white metal louvers over a polished aluminum ...Category
Vintage 1980s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsAluminum
- Midcentury Modern Sheepskin/Shearling Carl Malmsten "Lata Greven" Lounge ChairsBy O.H. Sjögren, Carl MalmstenLocated in Hillringsberg, SEThis model” Lata Greven" (Lazy countess) lounge chair designed by Carl Malmsten in 1953 and manufactured during that time. These two chairs have been fully...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSheepskin, Birch
Sold$13,729 / setFree Shipping - Midcentury Modern Big Adam Lounge Chairs NK, Sweden, 1950sBy Kerstin Horlin Holmquist, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)Located in Hillringsberg, SEThis set of two lounge chairs with elegant and sensual forms was named “Big Adam” and was a series "Paradise" designed by Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist for NK (Nor...Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric
- Poul Kjaerholm PK22 Black Leather ChairsBy Poul Kjærholm, Fritz HansenLocated in Philadelphia, PAPair of Poul Kjaerholm PK22 black leather sling chairs that were produced in 2000, they were sold through Fritz Hansen and Knoll. Overall ver...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
Sold$10,500 / set - Cognac Leather PK 22 Poul Kjaerholm Lounge Chair, Scandinavian Modern, 1960'sBy E. Kold Christensen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Antwerp, BECognac leather PK 22 Poul Kjaerholm lounge chair, Scandinavian Modern, 1960's While his mid-century Danish peers were working with wood, P...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- PK-22 Easy Chair by Poul Kjærholm for Fritz Hansen, Scandinavian Modern, 1980'sBy Fritz Hansen, Poul KjærholmLocated in Antwerp, BEScandinavian modern; Denmark; PK-22 Easy Chair; Loung chair; Poul Kjærholm; Fritz Hansen; Rattan; Wicker; Poul Kjaerholm early edition easy chair PK22 in hand-woven rattan and bru...Category
Vintage 1980s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjærholm 'PK22' Lounge Chair for Fritz Hansen in Aura LeatherBy Poul Kjærholm, Fritz HansenLocated in Glendale, CAPoul Kjærholm 'PK22' Lounge Chair for Fritz Hansen in Aura Leather. Established in 1872, Fritz Hansen has become synonymous with legendary Danish design. Combining timeless craftsma...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjærholm 'PK22' Lounge Chair for Fritz Hansen in Leather (Cat. 5)By Poul Kjærholm, Fritz HansenLocated in Glendale, CAPoul Kjærholm 'PK22' Lounge Chair for Fritz Hansen in Leather (Cat 5). Established in 1872, Fritz Hansen has become synonymous with legendary Danish design. Combining timeless craft...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Poul Kjaerholm PK22 Lounge Chair in Black Leather E Kold Christensen PK 22By Poul KjærholmLocated in Atlanta, GASculptural PK22 Model Lounge Chair, designed by Poul Kjaerholm for E Kold Christensen, signed, Denmark, circa 1960s. According to the estate where we purchased this chair, the leathe...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel