Finn Juhl’s Reading Chair
Refined Classic Introduced Entirely in Walnut
Finn Juhl’s distinctive Reading Chair is both understated and beloved. Today, the most well-known version of the chair combines walnut and oak, but over the past few years, the chair has been introduced in several variations. Now, a version is being introduced in the wood type that Finn Juhl proposed to the American furniture manufacturer Baker Furniture – crafted entirely in walnut.
Finn Juhl had an affinity for exotic woods such as rosewood, Cuban mahogany, and teak, and he often combined light and dark woods – for example, walnut, oak, maple, and beech. The Reading Chair is especially known for this distinctive feature, but Finn Juhl also designed a version for the American market made entirely of walnut. On the watercolor he created for Baker Furniture in 1952, he wrote:
“Nowadays, a dining chair is used for many other purposes than seating people at meal-times. This chair has a rather low back, corresponding in height to the dining table-top, and it also has a horizontal armrest, which can be used when a person is seated informally. Two versions are suggested: All in walnut with upholstered seat, all in walnut with a veneered plywood seat.”
This description reflects his practical mindset and his enduring ambition to unite aesthetic subtlety with functional detail.
Walnut offers a deep, warm hue that ranges from golden brown to dark chocolate. The walnut wood is finished with oil to protect the surface and enhance its resistance to water and stains. The wood absorbs the oil, creating a soft, natural finish that highlights the grain.
The Reading Chair is crafted at our own workshop in Vejen, Denmark. We use only American walnut sourced from suppliers who collaborate with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), an international trade organization promoting the use of American hardwood and supporting responsible forest management.
Thanks to AHEC’s long-term efforts in documentation and sustainability, the volume of American hardwood forests has increased significantly over the past 30 years. Since 1990, forest areas have expanded by over 10 million hectares, and the volume of hardwood has doubled – without relying on plantations or non-native species.
The Reading Chair, which was produced in Denmark by Bovirke, is considered a timeless and versatile classic. With its clean lines and subtle details, it suits private homes as well as hotels and restaurants.
The Reading Chair is available in walnut, ash, oak, black-painted oak, or a combination of oak and walnut. Choose between a veneered or upholstered seat.
More design from Finn Juhl:
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