Inspiration
The Chieftain Turns 70
18.03.2019"I started drawing the Chieftain Chair one day in the spring of 1949. I was at home, and I started drawing a small sketch around 10 AM with just four vertical lines connected to something. By two or three o'clock in the morning I had painted it. But in reality, I don't know how long it took me to design that chair. Perhaps I had a vague idea for some time that I wanted to design something bigger. There had been so many small, handy chairs, so I probably felt like designing something a bit more pompous..."
The Chieftain Chair, designed by Finn Juhl in 1949, is celebrating its 70th year in 2019.
With a total width of one meter, a pair of characteristic armrests, as well as a big and tall backrest, the Chieftain Chair takes up a lot of room and requires quite a lot of space to be fully appreciated. The Chieftain Chair was introduced at the Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition in 1949. Immediately it attracted much attention, not only due to its size but also because of its organic shape and exotic expression.
The iconic chair is one of Finn Juhl’s masterpieces, representing the peak of his career as a furniture designer. At its introduction in 1949, the chair marked a renewal of the Danish furniture design tradition. Today, 70 years on, the Chieftain Chair stands as an inspiration to a new generation of furniture designers.
