![]() Poul Kjærholm Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980) graduated from the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts furniture department in 1952. Immediately after, he was hired by Fritz Hansen where he designed a number of noteworthy chair prototypes in the course of a year. His chairs were exhibited and highly recognized, but were never put into production. |
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Model PK24.
The PK24 lounge chair is an impressive illustration of Kjærholm design. It is based on a stainless steel frame, made of natural wicker and has an adjustable leather headrest with a counter-weight in steel. |
![]() The PK61 table. Poul Kjærholm's PK61 coffee table from 1955 comes with the top in slate, light flint-rolled marble or glass. The base is stainless steel in typical Kjærholm design: square, aesthetic and minimal. In 1955, another Danish furniture manufacturer Ejvind Kold Christensen initiated a now historic and highly productive co-operation with Poul Kjærholm which lasted until Kjærholm's death in 1980. In 1982, the then 75 year old Kold Christensen - eager to ensure the continuation of his and Kjærholm's work - offered Fritz Hansen to take over the production and sales of the "Kjærholm Collection". Trained as a cabinet-maker Poul Kjærholm early on showed an interest in other construction materials. He took a particular likening to metal while he was still a student at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts. His graduation project from 1952 explores this interest: a low lounge chair with metal sides in slotted chromed spring steel. ![]() |
![]() The PK31/2/3 easy chair & sofa.
The PK31 is Poul Kjærholm's sofa series. The PK31 units rest on a base of matt chromium-plated spring steel. The units come in 2 or 3-seater sections, or as an individual easy chair. ![]() The PK22 easy chair. PK22 is world-acclaimed design created by Poul Kjærholm in 1956. PK22 is also typical Poul Kjærholm - with the combination of steel and the materials of nature - cane or leather - in an exclusive and minimalistic design. |
![]() The PK54 table surrounded by the PK9 chairs ![]() The PK26 sofa unit Kjærholm was not willing to compromise in design. He designed simple and truthful furniture, making the most of the properties of materials - his design being logic to the minute detail with an aura of exclusivity.
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![]() The PK26 sofa unit.
The PK26 exclusive wall-mounted sofa unit has cushions covered in leather resting on a top of a canvas covered support. The base is matt chromium-plated steel. |
![]() The PK80 couch. The PK80 couch with satin-brushed stainless steel suspension frame has a painted plywood bed plate and solid buttoned leather cushions. This exquisite couch is found in museums all over the world and similar waiting areas. |
![]() The PK11 armchair.
The PK11 armchair has a satin-brushed stainless chromium-plated steel base, armrests in ash and a leather seat. |
| The truthfulness in Poul Kjærholm's furniture is sincere. Contrary to most of his predecessors, he found steel to be a natural material with the same artistic fineness as wood, leather, rattan, glass and marble. He found that steel ages just as beautifully as organic materials, when polished correctly and given a proper surface treatment. He explored the special advantages of steel, its strength and springing ability, and worked the reflection of light into the surfaces of his materials with an artistic awareness. |
![]() The PK20 easy chair. The PK20 easy chair has a matt chromium-plated spring steel base and is covered with oxhide or wicker. The high-back leather version (83 cm) comes with leather headrest. The lower version is 73 cm. |
![]() The PK25 easy chair. The PK25 easy chair has a matt chromium-plated spring steel base and is made of flag halyard. The PK25 was one of Poul Kjærholm's final exam designs when he graduated from the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts in 1951. Kjærholm designed furniture for large, well-lit rooms, free of superfluous accessories. His ideal room is simple and well proportioned. His furniture would elevate the interior, creating visual harmony. It would be upon the user to add movement, drama, colors and variation to this backdrop.
![]() The PK62/63 tables. Poul Kjærholm's PK62 and PK63 coffee tables from 1968 have a light flint-rolled marble top, and the base is stainless steel. There is nothing superfluous in Kjærholm's design: With heightened precision and logic, Kjærholm's design appears almost ascetic through the naked perfection and simplicity.
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![]() The PK20 easy chair.
The PK20 easy chair has a matt chromium-plated spring steel base and is covered with oxhide or wicker. The high-back leather version (83 cm) comes with leather headrest. The lower version is 73 cm. ![]() |
By his premature death in 1980, only 51 years of age, Poul Kjærholm's pieces had long been a worldwide success. While production is small - the quality and pure expression of his furniture are unquestionable.
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The PK65 table. Poul Kjærholm's PK65 square table from 1979 is available with a light flint-rolled marble top or glass top. The base is matt chromium-plated steel. ![]() The PK91 folding stool. The PK91 folding stool on a stainless steel base is covered with leather or canvas. |
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![]() The PK9 side chair. The PK9 - by some called "the Tulip chair" - is a side chair on a satin-brushed stainless steel base with a molded polyester shell reinforced by fiber glass and covered with leather. PK9 matches the PK54 table perfectly. |
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