The Chieftains Chair by Finn Juhl

You might be tented to think that primitive items have been long-forgotten and basically unable to inspire new and modern creations. Well, I used to think that way too until I found this incredibly interesting chair. The chair was designed by Finn Juhl and produced by Onecollection. You can certainly see the primitive inspiration for this design. Still. It has been designed in a way that makes it seem modern as well.

The Chieftains Chair by Finn Juhl

The chair has a shape inspired by primitive weaponry and a sculptural form that makes it seem suspended above the frame. It’s surprising how such old and basically historic elements can inspire such a modern creation. It’s even more surprising how modern we find this chair when it was actually designed in 1949.

The Chieftains Chair by Finn Juhl
The Chieftains Chair by Finn Juhl

The chair was created for the 1949 Cabinetmakers’ Guild in Copenhagen. The story of its name is also interesting. During the exhibition, King Frederick IX sat in the chair and so a journalist suggested the name “King’s chair”. Still, the designer didn’t really like the way that sounded but it gave him an idea. He then proposed the alternative “ chieftain’s chair”. At some point the apostrophe was dropped thus resulting the current name. This sculptural chair was crafted using walnut for the frame and leather for the upholstery. The chair can be purchased for $13,900.