Poul Kjaerholm, PK31-2 sofa for Fritz Hansen

POUL KJAERHOLM (Denmark, 1929 - 1980).
2-seater sofa in Satin-brushed Spring steel frame, upholstered in brown leather, model PK31-2. Designed in 1958.
Produced by Fritz Hansen in 1985.
Signs of wear considering the age.
Measurements: 76 x 137 x 76 cm. Seat high 37.

PK31-2 is one of the purest and most representative pieces of 20th century minimalist design, where industrial engineering meets luxury craftsmanship. The name "PK31-2" indicates that it is the two-module version. The original design is a modular system that allows the creation of everything from a single armchair (PK31/1) to multi-seater sofas.

Poul Kjærholm was a Danish designer trained at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, where he entered in 1952 after having started his apprenticeship with the cabinetmaker Gronbech in 1948. Since the mid-fifties he worked for his friend EjvindKoldChristiansen, a businessman who always gave him total creative freedom. In his earliest creations, such as his PKO plywood furniture series, his strong personality is already evident. In 1958 he attracted international attention with his contribution to the "Formes Scandinaves" exhibition in Paris, and in the same year he won the Lunning Prize for his PK 22 chair. In 1957 and 1960 he was awarded the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale, and in 1959 he was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. In 1973 he was appointed director of the Danish Design Institute, where he taught from 1976. Today his designs are held in leading design collections, including those of the Victoria & ALbert Museum in London and the MOMA in New York.