48 Chair

Design  Finn Juhl
Manufacturer  House of Finn Juhl
Made in  Denmark
Dimensions W 69cm x D 63cm x H 80cm x SH 44cm
Colour & Materiality Frame: Walnut or oak/walnut; Upholstery: Fabric or leather

The 48 Chair is easily recognizable because of Finn Juhl's characteristic and sculptural shapes and delicate details. The chair embraces the seated person while the rounded surfaces are shaped to fit the gravity of the resting body and its proportions. The organically shaped seat and backrest, upholstered in fabric or leather, are raised from the carrying frame in an almost demonstrative manner. Visually this lifts the seated person, making it appear as if the law of gravity has been defeated.

Additionally, the 48 Series is characterized by the use of multiple materials. Today, it is rare to see furniture that employs two different types of wood. This type of contrast has been left almost entirely to Finn Juhl despite the many years that have passed. The 48 chair is available in oak with armrests and toes in walnut and a version entirely in walnut. The chair is upholstered with either fabric or leather.

As one of the leading figures in twentieth century furniture design, Finn Juhl is responsible for introducing North America to the Danish Modern movement through his work on the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Originally trained as an architect, he began creating furniture for himself in the 1930's and soon gained widespread recognition for his organic forms and expressive treatment of wood, often taking the material past the limits of what was thought possible. Thinking with the mindset of a sculptor, his ambition was to design furniture with movement and life.