Finn Juhl

Finn Juhl is today celebrated as a furniture designer and cultural figure who created the concept of ‘Danish design’ and paved the way for the global rise of Danish furniture in the 1950s and 1960s. Juhl’s innovative work is defined by his sculpture approach, organic forms and an emphasis on craftsmanship.

Born in 1912 in Copenhagen, Juhl initially wanted to become an art historian and studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts under Kay Fisker. It was during his studies in the 1930s when modern design began to take centre stage.

However, his passion lied in his furniture design and Juhl made his debut in 1937 collaborating with cabinetmaker Niels Vodder. Juhl was proudly independent, he had not been trained as a cabinetmaker and was not bound by the traditions of craftsmanship within furniture design. He took an unconventional approach by prioritising form and expression over conventional functionality. This unique perspective, almost with a sculptural vision, led to the creation of iconic pieces like the ‘Pelican’ Chair (1940) and the ‘Chieftain’ Chair (1949).

Juhl sought inspiration from the art of his day. The freedom in his designs, where form was an expressive part of function, was stemmed in the modern work by Jean (Hans) Arp, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and in the moving sculptures, mobiles, of Alexander Calder.

The designer’s star continued to rise to further international recognition in the 1950s, following the acclaim and give medals awarded to his work at the Milan Triennales. Juhl also made significant contributions to interior design, such as on the Trusteeship Council Chamer at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Finn Juhl died in 1989 at the age of 77. He played a central role in driving the exhibition of Danish design internationally, assuring his position today as a pivotal figure in the development and originality of 20th-century design.