Poul Kjærholm

Danish architect and furniture designer Poul Kjærholm (1929–1980) occupied a singular position in Scandinavian modernism, distinguishing himself from his contemporaries by favoring industrial steel over carved wood. Trained as a cabinetmaker before graduating from the Danish School of Arts and Crafts, Kjærholm treated steel as a natural material with the same expressive dignity and tactile beauty as timber, pairing it with leather, cane, canvas, and marble. His defining partnership was with furniture entrepreneur Ejvind Kold Christensen, a historic collaboration that established his iconic catalog—now curated and produced by Fritz Hansen. His masterpieces include the minimalist PK22 Easy Chair (1956), inspired by the classical Greek Klismos chair, the sculptural PK24 Chaise Longue ("Hammock Chair"), the woven PK25 Lounge Chair, and the geometric PK61 Coffee Table with its visible pinwheel steel base.