Finn Juhl easy chairs

These rare model 138 easy chairs were introduced in Denmark in the 1950s by Finn Juhl and produced by France & Son. Their frames are fashioned from solid teak, the wood’s warm amber hue brought to life by softly rounded edges and a hand-applied oil finish. The legs taper gently to the floor, creating an almost floating impression that underscores Juhl’s mastery of proportion and balance.

Each chair’s seating components appear to hover within the frame. The backrest and seat are sculpted independently: the back cushion is upholstered in a pale grey two-tone wool that accentuates its subtly curved, kidney-shaped form, while the seat cushion’s vibrant turquoise blue wool highlights its broader, more rectilinear profile. Together, the contrasting hues delineate the chair’s biomorphic silhouette and recall Juhl’s playful use of color to articulate separate elements.

The armrests extend outward in a gentle curve, terminating in delicately rounded ends that conform to the sitter’s elbows. This ergonomic gesture, combined with the chairs’ slightly reclined angle, offers support without sacrificing visual lightness. Behind the cushions, the teak framework reveals precise joinery: mortise-and-tenon joints connect the rail-like supports to the legs in an expression of structural honesty.

Finn Juhl (1912–1989) was a pioneer of Danish modernism, notable for introducing organic, sculptural shapes into furniture design. His collaboration with France & Son allowed for technically sophisticated production methods—such as steam-bending and precise machining—while retaining artisanal finish work. The model 138 chairs exemplify this synthesis, marrying biomorphic form with manufacturing feasibility.

France & Son, active in the mid-20th century, earned a reputation for engineering Juhl’s ambitious designs at scale. Their workshops combined machine-precision milling with careful hand-sanding and finishing, ensuring that each chair bore the subtleties of handcrafted detail. Underneath the seat of each chair, the original France & Son badge remains intact, confirming both provenance and serial authenticity.

These examples have been meticulously restored: the teak frames have been cleaned, re-oiled, and show minimal surface wear, while the wool upholstery is newly replaced yet faithful to the original color scheme. All structural elements are sound, and the cushions retain their intended tension and support.

Each chair measures 70 cm in width, 74 cm in depth, and 76 cm in height, with a seat height of 39 cm—approximately 27.6 inches wide, 29.1 inches deep, 29.9 inches high, and a 15.4-inch seat height—offering both the generous comfort and sculptural presence that define Finn Juhl’s legacy.