Grete Jalk, sofa 118 for France & Son

GRETE JALK (Denmark 1920-2006).
Three-seater sofa, model 118. Designed in 1963.
Teak and pillows in light fabric.
Signs of wear considering the age.
With metal plate with reference number and manufacturer's name.
Produced by for France & Son.
Measurements: 78 x 190 x 75 cm, 44 cm (seat height).

Grete Jalk's three-seater sofa 118 is an iconic piece of mid-20th century Danish furniture design, designed in 1963. It represents Jalk's mastery of creating elegant, ergonomic and visually light furniture, often using laminated and bent wood.

Jalk, considered one of the most influential designers of Danish modernism, studied cabinetmaking at the Copenhagen School of Design for Women between 1940 and 1942, and completed her training at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts with the influential designer Kaare Klint. In 1946 she won first prize in the Cabinetmakers' Guild annual competition, and five years later her designs were much admired at the 1951 Milan Triennale. Jalk is known for its thoughtful designs, carefully tailored to the needs of future homeowners, and for embracing technological and social progress, which were realized by leading manufacturers such as Henning Jensen, Poul Jeppesen and Fritz Hansen. By the 1960s, Jalk had developed its own distinctive style, which resulted in the establishment of a new modern style that reflected the needs of the time.

France & Søn - and its predecessor, France & Daverkosen, are among the most coveted names in today's vintage market. Many of the pieces still in circulation retain their original labels. Their productions were designed by the most important Danish designers of the mid-century, such as Hvidt & Mølgaard, Grete Jalk, Finn Juhl, Arne Vodder and Ole Wanscher.