Finn Juhl armchair

This very early example of the NV-46 armchair illustrates Finn Juhl’s sculptural approach to seating and his close collaboration with the master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder. The frame is executed in solid walnut with a warm, medium-brown tone and fine, linear grain. The legs are slender and tapering, ending in cylindrical brass shoes that visually anchor the chair to the floor while protecting the lower end of the legs, also it’s only the earliest examples that have the brass shoes. The armrests are organically modelled with soft transitions and a subtle swelling at the front, creating a continuous flowing line from the back posts to the front legs.

The seat and back are upholstered in the original cognac-coloured leather, which is shaped to follow the curves of the frame. The seat has a generous, slightly rounded profile, while the backrest is formed as a gently concave shield that supports the shoulder area and finishes in a characteristic downward curve at the lower edge. The leather has a matte surface with visible patination and colour variation, enhancing the contrast to the smooth, oiled walnut and the matte brass details.

Condition is consistent with long-term use and the age of the piece. The leather is dry and shows heavy wear, including surface abrasions, stains, general discolouration and visible repairs to both seat and back. The frame exhibits minor dents, scratches and wear to edges, as expected for an original, unrestored example, while the brass shoes show oxidation and spotting. Structurally the chair remains coherent, and the visible ageing of the materials underlines its status as an early, well-used cabinetmaker piece.

Finn Juhl (1912–1989) was one of the central figures of Danish modernism, known for his highly sculptural furniture that often separated the upholstered elements from the wooden frame in an almost floating manner. The NV-46 armchair, designed in the mid-1940s, exemplifies his transition from stricter functionalism towards more organic, free forms. Juhl trained as an architect and brought an architectural understanding of line, proportion and space to his furniture, which is clearly visible in the carefully balanced relationship between the thin members and curved volumes of this chair.

The armchair was produced by cabinetmaker Niels Vodder in Copenhagen, whose workshop realised many of Juhl’s most important early designs in small, hand-crafted series. Vodder’s work is characterised by precise joinery, fine material selection and a high level of finish, all of which are evident in the seamlessly shaped arm joints, the carefully fitted stretchers and the integration of the brass shoes with the walnut legs. The present chair bears the workshop mark “CABINETMAKER NIELS VODDER COPENHAGEN DENMARK DESIGN FINN JUHL” and comes with provenance from Niels Vodder (1892–1982), underscoring its significance as an early and historically important example.

Stylistically, the NV-46 belongs to the early phase of organic Danish modern design, where influences from both traditional cabinetmaking and contemporary sculpture are merged. The combination of walnut, brass and natural leather, together with the fluid geometry of the frame, gives the chair a strong three-dimensional presence from all angles. The pronounced patina of the original materials reinforces the chair’s authenticity and its role as a document of post-war Danish craftsmanship and design culture.

Dimensions: 65 × 62 × 86 cm (width × depth × height), seat height 47 cm, armrest height 69 cm.
In inches: 25.6 × 24.4 × 33.9 in, seat height 18.5 in, armrest height 27.2 in.