Born on 8 January 1929, Poul Kjærholm is known for his precise, material-driven approach to modern furniture design

Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980) transformed Danish furniture design by elevating steel to an art form.

While his contemporaries worked primarily with wood during Danish design’s golden age, Kjærholm chose a different path—one that would redefine modernist furniture through industrial materials combined with traditional craftsmanship.

Born in Østervrå, Denmark, Kjærholm trained as a cabinetmaker before studying at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, graduating in 1952. Despite his woodworking education, he developed a fascination with steel, believing it deserved the same artistic respect traditionally given to fine wood.

The PK25 and Early Vision

Kjærholm’s graduation project, the PK25 chair (1952), demonstrated his revolutionary approach. Also known as the “Element” chair, it featured a continuous steel frame bent through the form without interruption—a technical and aesthetic achievement that became his signature. The seat utilized flag halyard rope wrapped around the frame, combining industrial strength with organic texture.

The Kold Christensen Partnership

In 1955, Kjærholm began his lifelong collaboration with manufacturer Ejvind Kold Christensen. This partnership provided the creative freedom necessary for Kjærholm to develop his extensive furniture range. The relationship lasted until Kjærholm’s death in 1980, with both families remaining close today.

International Recognition

The PK22 chair (1956) brought Kjærholm international acclaim. This minimalist lounge chair, featuring a steel frame with leather or woven cane seat, earned him the prestigious Lunning Award in 1958 following its debut at the Formes Scandinaves exhibition in Paris. He also received Grand Prix awards at the Milan Triennale in both 1957 and 1960.

Kjærholm articulated his philosophy clearly: “Steel’s constructive potential is not the only thing that interests me; the refraction of light on its surface is an important part of my artistic work. I consider steel a material with the same artistic merit as wood and leather.”

The Fritz Hansen Legacy

Two years after Kjærholm’s death in 1980, Fritz Hansen assumed production and distribution of The Kjærholm Collection—designs developed between 1951 and 1967. The manufacturer continues to produce these works today, maintaining the meticulous standards Kjærholm demanded.

Each piece combines steel with natural materials including leather, cane, canvas, and marble, creating contrasts that became his hallmark. The furniture appears as “elegant written characters,” as one contemporary described, giving rooms solidity and calm through pure form and material honesty.

Kjærholm’s designs occupy permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and major museums across Scandinavia and Germany. His work represents profound explorations of the relationships between body, materials, and space—essays in form that remain as relevant today as when first conceived.

Product: PK22, PK61, PK80, PK31/2, PK31/4 Finish: leather, marble Designer: Poul KjÊrholm Year of design: 1956, 1957, 1958