Father of the “Danish modern” style, Finn Juhl (1912-1989) designed in one day in 1949 one of his most iconic pieces: the Chieftain chair. Made in collaboration with the cabinetmaker Niels Vodder, it was originally created in teak and leather; its individual components are symbols of traditional objects, particularly native American: the wide armrests evoke horse saddles, the framework of the backrest bows, and the backrest itself both an Amerindian headdress and a shield. Its curved and welcoming lines, created according to ergonomics, characterize Finn Juhl’s work. The finesse with which the natural wood and leather materials are treated is the trademark of the creator. When presented in 1949 at the greatest event of Danish design, the Cabinetmakers Guild Exhibition, it was described as such:
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“The Chieftain chair, designed according to the scientific principles ensuring maximum comfort is already designated winner of this edition … This chair is so lively that it seems trembling with vitality … Finn Juhl conclusively has his place amongst great artists”.
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Finn Juhl (1912-1989)
Modèle Chieftain
Armchair
Sold 140 400 €
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After graduating in 1934 from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Finn Juhl first worked with Vilhelm Lauritzen, then created, with the complicity of cabinetmaker Niels Vodder, a first set of furniture intended for his own house. Upon opening his studio in 1945, he distinguished himself immediately by his pure and organic lines, in a search for a romantic outlook on his era and creation. His undoubtedly Danish style does however distinguish itself from the traditional functionalism of his peers by adopting a unique sculptural aesthetic in the use of materials, shapes, and construction. His works throughout the world, notably the interior of the UN headquarters in New York City, propelled Scandinavian design at the forefront of the international scene, paving the way for his Danish successors and contemporaries, such as his student, friend and collaborator Niels Vodder, whose works furnished the White House.
