A Sofa-Bench for two by Finn Juhl

I recently visited the beautiful showroom of Finn Juhl. Finn Juhl was a Danish furniture designer and architect. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1930-1934 and worked as a teacher at the School of Interior Design 1945-1955.

During my first cup of coffee and croissant, a beautiful Sofa-Bench for two arrived. It was delivered by two moving men as if it was any regular couch, but it was the very recent launch from the Finn Juhl collection.

The 48 series

The 48 Sofa-Bench is part of the 48 Series which was presented at the Cabinet Makers’ Guild Exhibition in 1948. Even to the modern eye it is clear that Finn Juhl’s ideas reached far into the future, when they were presented in 1948. He never let his innovative designs stand alone but rather opted for creating a so called “Gesamtkunstwerk” – a German word, which means entirety experienced and achieved through even the smallest of details.

It is a piece of furniture that has impeccable details from every angel and needs a very special spot to shine. I sat in it for a few minutes and it had the comfort of a really well designed chair but the intimacy of a couch.

Painted ceilings

Taking through the showroom we ended up in this mid century bedroom. I was absolutely taken away by this beautiful yellow ceiling. Why always paint the walls when you can paint the ceiling, right? It gives such a special effect to even the smallest room. Finn Juhl also painted the ceilings in his own home.

The Chieftain Sofa

Alongside the impressive Chieftain Chair, Finn Juhl and cabinetmaker Niels Vodder also introduced the Chieftain Sofa in 1949. The Chieftain Chair immediately went into production, there was, as far as we know, only produced one single issue of the Chieftain Sofa.