Poul Kjærholm

"It is the materials' own language that I seek to express," Poul Kjærholm has stated. He was particularly inspired by the Bauhaus movement's doctrines of aesthetic simplicity. Like Louis Mies van der Rohe, he preferred the stylishly clean steel for his furniture.

Poul Kjaerholm (1929–1980)

Danish furniture designer – master of steel and minimalism

“It is the materials' own language that I seek to express.” – Poul Kjærholm

Poul Kjærholm is considered one of the most significant figures in Danish furniture design. His uncompromising focus on materials such as steel, glass, marble and leather resulted in a timeless, modern design language that has secured him a central place in international design history.


Background and education

Born in Østervrå in 1929, Poul Kjærholm trained as a cabinetmaker in Hjørring at the age of 20. From 1949–1952 he studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen under, among others, Jørn Utzon and Hans J. Wegner. As early as 1955 he became a teacher at the Danish Academy of Fine Arts' School of Furniture and in 1976 a professor, where he succeeded both Kaare Klint and Ole Wanscher.


Design philosophy and style

Kjærholm was strongly inspired by the Bauhaus movement and architects such as Mies van der Rohe. Where Wegner , Mogensen and Juhl often worked with wood, Kjærholm focused on steel – a material he considered both aesthetic and honest. The combination of cool steel with natural materials such as leather, reed and marble gave his furniture a unique balance between modernist minimalism and sensual materiality.

His furniture appears simple and clean, but is technically complex and uncompromising in its execution. The visible joints are part of the aesthetic and emphasize his mathematical approach to design.


Iconic furniture by Poul Kjærholm

Most Poul Kjærholm furniture expresses an uncompromising search for purity in form and material. With steel as his preferred starting point, Kjærholm combined the industrial with the artisanal, creating furniture that appears both sculptural and functional – the essence of modern Danish design.

  • PK22 (1956) – lounge chair in steel and cane or leather, one of his best-known works.
  • PK31 series (1958) – sofa and armchair series with simple, geometric shapes.
  • PK9 Tulip Chair (1960) – characteristic dining chair with leather shell.
  • PK54 Dining table (1963) – circular marble table with extension leaves (PK54A).
  • PK24 Chaiselong (1965) – an iconic chaise longue in steel and pediment or leather, with adjustable headrest.
  • PK80 Daybed (1957) – simple daybed in leather and steel, inspired by classic modernism.
  • PK61 Table (1956) – coffee table in steel and glass or marble, known for its simple construction.
  • PK26 Sofa (1952) – experimental wall-mounted modular sofa.


Several of these works are today exhibited at MoMA in New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, emphasizing their international significance.


Producers and collaborations

  • Ejvind Kold Christensen – Kjærholm's most important collaborator from 1955 to 1980; produced the majority of his best-known designs.
  • Fritz Hansen – took over production in 1982 and continued to bring Kjærholm's designs to an international audience.
  • PP Furniture – collaborated on individual pieces of furniture.
  • Rud. Rasmussen – classic carpentry, which produced special wooden details.
  • Chris Sørensen – produced, among other things, experimental chairs.
  • Thorald Madsen – crafted fine cabinetmaker furniture, such as the JH106 chair.
  • Fritz Halvorsen – small production of concrete furniture.


Legacy and legacy

Poul Kjærholm died in 1980, aged just 51, but his influence on Danish and international design is enormous. His furniture is today among the most sought-after design classics, known for its aesthetic purity, uncompromising quality and ability to unite art and function. Original editions produced by Ejvind Kold Christensen are particularly sought after by collectors.


Experience Poul Kjærholm's original furniture at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK you will find original furniture by Poul Kjærholm – from the PK22 and PK31 series to the PK54 dining table and PK24 chaise longue. All furniture is genuine vintage, made in uncompromising quality and with a timeless expression.

If you can't find the exact piece of furniture you're looking for, we'll be happy to help you find it. Contact us at support@klassik.dk or call 33 33 90 60 – or visit us at Bredgade 3, Copenhagen, where you can experience original works by Poul Kjærholm and other big names in Danish design.