Pair of Poul Kjærholm PK11 Armchairs in Leather

Pair of Vintage Poul Kjærholm Armchairs in Leather, Oak & Steel
An exceptional pair of vintage original Poul Kjærholm PK 11 armchairs, combining the architectural precision of Kjærholm’s steel furniture with the warmth of beautifully figured wood and leather. Elegant, restrained, and remarkably sculptural, these chairs embody Kjærholm’s ability to reduce furniture to its essential elements while allowing each material to retain its own distinct character.

The design is defined by a striking semicircular wooden back and armrest, which sweeps continuously around the sitter in a graceful architectural curve. The richly grained wood provides a warm counterpoint to the chair’s slender, rectilinear metal structure. Viewed from above, the relationship between the curved back and oval seat creates an especially compelling composition.

The upholstered seats are finished in rich brown leather, lending the chairs a sophisticated tonal quality while maintaining the clean visual language of the design. Beneath, the seats appear almost suspended within the frame, emphasizing the lightness and transparency for which Kjærholm’s work is celebrated.

The metal frames are exceptionally spare: narrow legs, delicate vertical supports, and carefully considered horizontal members create structure without visual weight. The contrast between warm wood, supple leather, and cool metal is quintessential Kjærholm. Rather than disguising construction, each component is allowed to read independently as part of the overall design.

Importantly, these are vintage original examples, not contemporary reproductions. The frames retain their orginal PK cypher maker’s mark, further documenting their period manufacture and Danish origin.

Poul Kjærholm (1929–1980) occupies a singular position in the history of Danish modern design. While many of his contemporaries became synonymous with sculpted teak and rosewood, Kjærholm embraced steel as a primary structural material, believing it possessed artistic qualities worthy of the same attention traditionally given to wood. His disciplined approach produced some of the most architecturally significant furniture of the postwar period, and original vintage examples have become increasingly desirable among serious collectors of twentieth-century design.

Offered as a matched pair, these chairs have a commanding presence without appearing heavy—a sophisticated choice for a living room, study, private office, or alongside an important collection of Scandinavian modern furniture.

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