The story behind

The PK 31 series stands as one of the most significant solutions for upholstered seating in Danish modernism. Designed in 1958 by Poul Kjærholm, it consists of an armchair and two sofas sharing a common design language, where the frame and cushions appear as two clearly separate components. The frame is reduced to a taut construction in spring steel, while the loose down cushions upholstered in leather rest freely on the frame, delineating the upholstered volume as pure geometric units.

Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980) took a different path from the Wegner and Mogensen tradition. He was originally a trained cabinetmaker, but through Bauhaus and especially Mies van der Rohe, he discovered spring steel as his primary material, not as an industrial antithesis to wood, but as a malleable mass with the same aesthetic integrity. The PK 31 series was originally produced by E. Kold Christensen until Kjærholm's death in 1980, after which Fritz Hansen took over production in 1982 and has since distributed the series internationally.

Design and materials

The frame in the PK 31 series is made of spring steel, satin-brushed in the early Kold Christensen examples and chrome-plated in the later Fritz Hansen production. The construction is reduced to the necessary: a low, rectangular frame that supports the cushions without drawing attention away from them. The cushions are loose down pillows, upholstered in leather, and they rest freely on the frame, so that each surface appears as an independent geometric volume. Kjærholm's signature, reduction to one piece per material, is clearly evident in the series' balance between the rigidity of steel and the soft weight of leather.

The series is built on a modular principle. Frame elements and cushions can be combined so that the armchair, two-seater sofa, and three-seater sofa form a cohesive family and can stand together in the same room with a common linearity. This is part of the explanation for why the PK 31 series has become a cornerstone of Kjærholm's production: the principle is simple enough to maintain the design language across furniture types, yet strict enough for each individual piece of furniture to stand alone as a strong, complete form.

Known models within the PK 31 series

PK 31/1 - the armchair as the series' archetype

The PK 31/1 is single-seated and establishes the proportions of the series. The frame is supported by four spring steel angles that define the furniture's basic skeleton, and the seat and back cushions are attached without visible mounting. The chair has a low-built, square appearance and clearly demonstrates Kjærholm's method of building upholstered comfort around a designed spring steel frame. It functions both as a standalone armchair and in combination with the series' sofas.

PK 31/2 - two-seater sofa at the core of the series

The PK 31/2 carries on the armchair's proportions in a wider format. The sofa has two loose back cushions and two loose seat cushions on a single frame, and the volume grows while the lines remain the same. It works well as the central piece of furniture in a smaller living space, where the sofa stands freely or against a wall, maintaining the low, horizontal line that is characteristic of the series.

PK 31/3 - three-seater sofa with full width

The PK 31/3 is the largest standard model in the series and has three loose seat cushions and three loose back cushions supported by a wider frame. The seat height is 38 cm, which emphasizes the low, horizontal line. The sofa looks particularly striking in open spaces, where the wide surface has room around it, and where the long line of the frame can be clearly read.

Restoration at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK, each PK 31 piece of furniture is individually assessed with respect for its original design and craftsmanship. Restoration is carried out with a focus on preserving the furniture's materials, proportions, and character, so that the whole appears authentic.

Our workshop has been working with original Danish furniture classics since 1991 and has extensive experience with Kjærholm's PK 31 series in various finishes. For reupholstery and repair, we use high-quality materials, including leather from Sørensen Leather and textiles from Kvadrat, selected with an eye to the furniture's original expression.

Sell your PK 31 furniture to KLASSIK

We purchase original furniture from Poul Kjærholm's PK 31 series - including the PK 31/1 armchair, PK 31/2 two-seater sofa, and PK 31/3 three-seater sofa. Send us pictures and relevant information via our contact form, and receive a professional valuation based on condition, originality, and demand.

At KLASSIK, we buy original Danish furniture from the 1920s to the 1980s. We emphasize a serious and professional sales process with a focus on correct valuation and dialogue.

Originality, sustainability, and guarantee of authenticity

An original piece of furniture from Poul Kjærholm's PK 31 series carries its history in the patina of the frame and the traces of use on the leather over time. At KLASSIK, we consider these marks to be part of the furniture's quality and longevity. With more than 30 years of experience and thousands of pieces of furniture passing through our hands, we guarantee the authenticity of all furniture in our assortment.

Therefore, we offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity on all furniture purchased from us. At KLASSIK, you invest in original Danish design - with certainty.

Contact us

Since 1991, we have specialized in the purchase, sale, and restoration of original Danish furniture classics. You are always welcome to contact us or visit us in our shop at Bredgade 3, 1260 Copenhagen K.

Phone: +45 33 33 90 60
Email: support@klassik.dk
Instagram: @klassikcopenhagen