This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Kaare Klint’s furniture school, the foundation of what we now recognise as Danish Design. Paying homage to the legendary architect, professor and furniture designer, the family-owned design company is relaunching an iconic Klint chair from 1936.
As a tribute to Klint, Fredericia is reintroducing the Church Chair under a new name: The Klint Chair. This contemporary yet inherently classic piece of furniture encapsulates Danish design history while drawing on multiple references from various corners of the world. The design heritage shines through in the well-composed chair, with its simple and functional elegance accentuated by superb carpentry to make it a subtle masterpiece.
A classic design adapted to people and modern times
Klint’s timeless wooden chair from 1936 was initially known as the Church Chair as it adorned the iconic Grundtvig’s Church, designed by Klint’s father, where it still proudly stands. Klint drew inspiration globally in his quest for new designs, and the chair echoes American Shaker furniture, Southern European church chairs and traditional English country chairs with rounded legs. The change of name to the Klint Chair emphasises that its design is suitable for much more than the grandeur of an ecclesiastical setting. It is a modern chair with a classic aesthetic ideal for everyday use, providing excellent seating comfort both in private homes and social settings.
In close collaboration with the Klint family, the chair has now been adapted to fit seamlessly into home environments and contemporary proportions of the human body – staying true to Klint’s spirit. Grandson Lars Klint, a fully qualified architect who teaches at the Copenhagen School of Architecture, welcomes the updated chair:
“As a family, we are delighted to write a new chapter in the story of Kaare Klint, his designs and his importance to Danish design history. I personally am proud of the Klint Chair, which, with its updated proportions, has become just as light and graceful as I had imagined – without compromising Kaare Klint’s design in any way.”
– Lars Klint, Kaare Klint’s grandson
The founder of Danish modernism
In 1924, Kaare Klint (1888-1954) co-founded the Department of Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He instilled in his students the value of meticulous craftsmanship and principles, including precision, practicality, durability and respect for natural resources. Like its contemporary, the Bauhaus school in Germany, the Danish movement originated from functionalism. However, while Bauhaus celebrated the future, the Klint school was dedicated to refining and modernising archetypes.
Throughout his career and at the Department of Furniture Design, Klint inspired and influenced numerous great Danish designers, including Børge Mogensen, Hans J. Wegner, Nanna Ditzel, Mogens Koch and Poul Kjærholm. Notably, Klint left a lasting impact on Børge Mogensen, who, having worked as Klint’s assistant for a time, pursued Klint’s design principles and exerted an unequivocal influence on Fredericia as a design company.
“The Klint Chair is an extraordinary piece that marked the inception of numerous wood and wickerwork chairs, contributing to the global recognition of Danish design. The chair is a clear precursor to Børge Mogensen’s designs and played a pivotal role in shaping what would later evolve into Fredericia’s identity through Mogensen’s collaboration with my grandfather, Andreas Graversen.”
– Rasmus Graversen, CCO and third generation of the Graversen family.
More design by Kaare Klint:
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Fredericia relaunches the Church Chair under a new name: The Klint Chair by Kaare Klint
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