The Whisky Chair: A Bold Experiment
Behind the elegant expression of the Whisky Chair lies a story of courage, innovation, and a design that challenged the conventions of its time.
With its bold form and distinct details, the chair drew attention and strong reactions.
“Finn Juhl’s furniture is exclusive, and for that reason it is sometimes perceived merely as an expression of an arrogant aesthetic, at odds with the rational simplicity on which modern furniture design is otherwise based. He himself is perhaps not always entirely without blame in this regard…”
This is how the architect Bent Salicath wrote in a review of Finn Juhl’s furniture in 1947. The criticism, however, had little effect on Finn Juhl, who the following year presented the extravagant Whisky Chair at the Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition – almost as if to underline that he created furniture independently of the prevailing norms of the time.
Photo of original drawing: Pernille Klemp, Designmuseum Danmark
The original drawing shows that the chair was intended to stand in pairs – the left armrest fitting precisely with the right, which extends in an organic, asymmetrical form with a fold-out brass tray. A small hole in the tray marks the exact spot where a specially made whisky glass should rest – a detail that is both practical and on the verge of provocatively decadent.
The Whisky Chair was never put into production during Finn Juhl’s lifetime, but today it stands as one of his most fascinating works. It is bold, playful, and alluring – an invitation to slow down, to indulge, and to savour the moment.
Images and content courtesy of House of Finn Juhl.
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