Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius office chair

This rare office chair, designed by Jørgen Kastholm and Preben Fabricius and produced by Bo-Ex in Denmark during the 1960s, is a refined expression of Danish modernist design applied to functional seating. Kastholm and Fabricius, known for their precise, minimalist approach and emphasis on quality materials, created furniture that married architectural clarity with human comfort. This chair exemplifies their collaborative aesthetic, which frequently balanced industrial materials with sculptural form.

The chair features a chrome-plated steel frame that provides a visually light yet structurally robust foundation. The clean lines and exposed frame elements reflect the influence of functionalist and Bauhaus principles, which the designers often referenced in their work. The four-star base terminates in smooth-rolling metal casters, allowing for both mobility and stability. These elements contribute to the chair’s practicality while maintaining a refined and restrained visual language.

The seat and backrest are upholstered in the original black leather, which has aged gracefully, developing a soft, even patina that adds depth and character to the chair. The leather is subtly stitched, with seams that follow the gentle contours of the seat and back, emphasizing the ergonomic shaping without resorting to excessive ornamentation. The slightly curved profile of the backrest and the form-fitting seat offer both support and comfort, affirming the designers’ attention to human factors within the workplace.

Dimensions are well-balanced for both aesthetics and functionality: 50 cm in width, 47 cm in depth, and 73 cm in height, with a seat height of 45 cm (19.7 x 18.5 x 28.7 inches, seat height 17.7 inches). These proportions make the chair suitable for use at desks or in meeting areas where design and comfort are equally prioritized.

Jørgen Kastholm and Preben Fabricius are best known for their sculptural yet rigorously functional designs, often executed in metal and leather. Their collaboration yielded a number of iconic furniture pieces throughout the 1960s, many of which are now recognized as essential works of Danish modern design. This office chair, while less common than some of their lounge seating, maintains the same commitment to material quality, ergonomic refinement, and timeless form.

In excellent vintage condition, with light wear consistent with age, this office chair remains a collectible and usable piece of mid-century design, equally at home in a modernist interior or a professional setting that values both aesthetics and functionality.