Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm easy chairs

This is a pair of easy chairs designed by Danish architects Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm during the 1970s and produced by Arnold Exclusiv in Denmark. The design emphasizes structural clarity and refined materiality, key traits in the work of Fabricius and Kastholm, who are noted for their minimalist, high-functioning furniture pieces often constructed in steel and leather.

The chairs feature a frame of chromed flat-bar steel, formed into a visually light yet robust structure. Each chair’s frame is composed of sharply bent steel legs that create a splayed, almost aerodynamic stance, while a supporting crossbar stabilizes the construction. The seat and backrest are composed of a continuous sling of thick brown leather. The leather shows a beautiful, rich patina with surface variations, creases, and signs of usage consistent with age and original materials, enhancing the sculptural quality of the design.

The rear view reveals lacing that fastens the seat’s tension, a functional yet decorative element that underscores the handcrafted aspect of the piece. The leather is vegetable-tanned and untreated, contributing to the depth of color and character developed over time. The combination of the industrial chromed metal and organic leather reflects the designers’ interest in contrasts and material honesty.

Preben Fabricius (1931–1984) and Jørgen Kastholm (1931–2007) were trained as a cabinetmaker and a blacksmith, respectively, before studying architecture together under Finn Juhl. Their partnership during the 1960s and 1970s produced a series of influential designs that combined Danish modern principles with an international, almost Bauhaus-like rigor.

The dimensions of each chair are 65 cm wide, 68 cm deep, and 75.5 cm high, with a seat height of 35 cm. In imperial units, this translates to approximately 25.6 inches in width, 26.8 inches in depth, 29.7 inches in height, and a seat height of 13.8 inches. The chairs remain in good structural condition, with the original leather intact and strong, making them outstanding examples of Danish modernism’s encounter with industrial design aesthetics.