Nordic Design

After having focused on architects secure in the Danish cabinetmaker tradition we now focus in on one of the sharpest minds in Danish design history – Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980).

Love for the Material

Kjærholm was trained as both a cabinetmaker and an architect. This gave him an unparalleled understanding of how to combine craftsmanship with an aesthetic sensibility. His production is characterized by a deep love for the materials used and an effort to utilize the chosen material to its fullest. In his design two aspects of Kjærholm’s work can be seen running parallel to each other: One aspect was as a representative of international modernism, where Kjærholm was on par with his foreign colleagues. The stringent and minimalistic idiom was used as a benchmark for Kjærholm and the focus was on materials such as steel, leather and concrete – materials which most people associate with Kjærholm. The second aspect focused on much more organic and sculptural furniture.

Famous Daybed

The auction's selection represents both aspects of Kjærholm’s work and is led by two models of the extremely rare square daybed "PK-80A" in chromed steel and patinated natural leather. The precursor was the rectangular "PK-80" version, made in 1957, and which today is an international design icon found in places such as MoMA in New York. Two years later Kjærholm designed the quadratic version for Tårnby Town Hall, a building that was designed by architect and professor Halldor Gunnløgsson – Kjærholm’s mentor. "PK-80A" was never put into commercial production and was only made to order. The models up for sale at the auction were produced for the now closed Jens Nielsen & Olivia Holm-Møller Museum in Holstebro.

Wall-mounted Sofa

Six wall-mounted sofa modules of the "PK-26" type should certainly be of interest for discerning collectors. The material consists of the distinctive mat chromed steel and the patinated original Niger leather. Kjærholm designed the sofa in 1956 for his former collaborator, the architect Erik Christian Sørensen, who used it as part of the interior at the pharmaceutical company Lundbeck. Kjærholm was not completely satisfied with the model, so in collaboration with the upholsterer Ivan Schlechter, Kjærholm modified the cushions to the characteristic look, which is exemplified by the model up for auction.

The Holy Grail

There is no doubt that the coffee table with the wooden frame and the atypical glass top can be described as the Holy Grail of Kjærholm’s work. The year was 1952, and he was working with a far more organic and sculptural idiom. Even seen from above the table is visually beautiful. It is among Kjærholm’s earliest experiments, and it was only made as a prototype in this one model. The current owner's family bought it directly from the architect in the early 1950s.

Auction: 24 September at 4 pm in Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen
Preview: 10-14 September at the same address

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