Poul Kjaerholm, PK20 seats for Kold Christensen

POUL KJÆRHOLM (Denmark, 1929 - 1980) for Kold Christensen.
Pair of PK20 armchairs.
Very early edition.
Curved steel frame.
Measurements: 90.5 x 80 x 80 cm.

The PK20 armchair by Poul Kjærholm is an iconic piece of Danish design from the late 1960s, characterized by its curved, continuous "S" shape that adapts to the body and gives it a sculptural and light appearance; It is built on a curved cantilever steel structure (without back legs), usually chromed or stainless steel, which gives it that distinctive floating effect, while the seat and backrest are made of leather, with an ergonomic design designed for rest and even with a headrest, all within a minimalist, elegant and very Scandinavian style, where the combination of noble materials and clean lines makes it both a comfortable chair and a piece of high aesthetic and collectible value.

Poul Kjærholm was a Danish designer trained at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, where he entered in 1952 after beginning 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.