PK22 Chair and PK61 Table Gain New Material Expressions at Fritz Hansen

Simple and sophisticated, with a quiet presence, the PK22 chair by Poul Kjærholm has won the hearts and minds of generations of design aficionados.

To honour the 70th anniversary of the iconic chair, Fritz Hansen has developed Haze, an exclusive aniline leather with a subtle skin effect, created in collaboration with the Danish leather maker, Sørensen.

FH PK61 Granite Grey White Solae Warm Grey

The longtime collaborators sought a leather that speaks to the spirit of Poul Kjærholm, while bringing a new contemporary expression through tactility, softness and tone. Using the finest quality hides, Haze applies a special treatment to achieve a soft matt natural leather with a tactile surface. Its dark coffee brown hue a foil for the matt brushed steel of the frame.

After years of experimentation, 1956 was a breakthrough year for Kjærholm. The PK22, along with its companion table the PK61, marked the arrival of a distinct new voice in Scandinavian modernism. Both pieces representing a clarity of intention and execution, furniture reduced to a precise and artistic essence. In 1957 Kjærholm was awarded the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale for the PK22 chair, projecting his name into global design consciousness.

“We thought now was the right time to make a traditional aniline leather type that’s crafted and designed by us with Sørensen,” says Christian Andresen, Fritz Hansen’s Director of Craft & Heritage. “The leather has a slightly structured surface and a natural skin look and is ever so slightly sanded, resulting in a soft matte natural leather with a tactile surface. The dark coffee brown colour looks beautiful on the PK22 in many settings, bringing another expression of warmth and softness.”

FH PK111 Oregon Pine PK22 Haze Dark Brown PK61 Granite Grey White KI 6556 F Black

Coinciding with the launch of Haze, Fritz Hansen is also introducing a new grey-white honed granite for the top of the PK61 table. The granite is extremely durable and its salt and pepper tones complement other pieces in the Kjærholm Collection.

Honouring natural materials and allowing their characteristics to determine the essence of the furniture is a fundamental tenet of Kjærholm’s oeuvre. The PK22 is a testament to this vision along with Kjærholm’s ability to create objects that exist outside of a specific time and location, says Andresen.

“The PK22 is such a special chair. The thin almost graphic architectural form, the low back, the span of different upholstery materials. It doesn’t scream and it doesn’t disappear, whether in a modernistic, more decorated or simply more personal setting. It is just beautiful standing by itself, side by side in front of a table or paired with a sofa. And, it ages in a natural way, the leather is like a sail on a frame, you can see it has worn but even when they’re 20, 30, 40 years old they hold their form.”

Thomas Kjærholm, Poul’s son, has observed how the PK22 has a new life with a new generation of fans. “I am hearing about how young people are now wanting the chairs, asking for one as a gift when they graduate or are confirmed. My sister Krestine and I are very proud of the 70th anniversary and how the Kjærholm Collection is being presented by Fritz Hansen.”

Haze leather, a commercially exclusive leather on the original PK22 brushed steel frame.
Viscount White granite on the original PK61 brushed steel frame.