PK22 Lounge Chairs in Brushed Steel & Wicker by Poul Kjærholm for Fritz Hansen, 1950s, Set of 2

Model · PK22
Designer · Poul Kjærholm
Manufacturer · Fritz Hansen
Origin · Denmark
Period · 1950s
Style · Scandinavian Modern / Danish Modern
Materials · Brushed stainless steel, wicker
Colour · Steel grey, beige

Object

PK22 is almost nothing, and that is precisely what makes it extraordinary. Two pieces of steel rise from the floor and fold beneath a thin surface of woven wicker, leaving the chair suspended between structure and air. There is no visual weight to hide behind. Every line has to be exactly where it belongs.

Kjærholm designed PK22 in 1956, reducing the lounge chair to a few essential relationships: hard steel against woven fibre, geometry against the body, industrial precision against something made slowly by hand. In wicker, that contrast becomes particularly beautiful. The seat brings warmth and imperfection to the disciplined steel beneath it. As a pair, the chairs feel almost architectural, two quiet structures that change with the light around them.

Designer

Poul Kjærholm (1929–1980) trained as a cabinetmaker before studying at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Yet while many of his contemporaries built the identity of Danish modernism around wood, Kjærholm became fascinated by steel.

He treated it not as a cold industrial shortcut, but as a material worthy of the same attention traditionally given to timber. Steel, leather, wicker, canvas and stone became parts of a remarkably restrained vocabulary. Designed in 1956, PK22 distilled that thinking into one of his purest objects, a chair in which almost every unnecessary element had disappeared.

Manufacturer

Fritz Hansen began in Copenhagen in 1872 and grew from a cabinetmaking workshop into one of the defining manufacturers of Danish modern furniture. Its history became intertwined with some of the most important designers of the 20th century, translating experimental ideas into objects that travelled far beyond Denmark.

In the 1980s, Fritz Hansen took over the production of Poul Kjærholm's collection, preserving the precision and material sensitivity on which his furniture depends. PK22 remains one of the clearest expressions of that legacy, still balancing industrial structure with the intimacy of materials shaped by hand.

Condition

The brushed stainless steel frames remain original and are beautifully preserved in excellent vintage condition. The handwoven natural wicker seats remain firm and intact, carrying a warm, even patina developed through age and previous use. As with any authentic vintage pieces, subtle traces of time may be present, adding to their history and individual character.

Dimensions

Width · 62 cm / 24.4 in
Depth · 63 cm / 24.8 in
Height · 71 cm / 28.0 in
Seat height · 33 cm / 13.0 in

Included

The lounge chairs are accompanied by a Back to the Furniture Certificate of Originality, a Back to the Furniture flyer, a Thank You card and a small gift.

Availability

The lounge chairs can be ready to ship within 10-15 workdays.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. Every piece is carefully prepared and packed for international transport. Shipping costs are calculated according to destination at checkout, with tracking provided after dispatch.

Enquiries

For questions about the piece, its condition, shipping, delivery or any other details, please get in touch. Additional information is always available before purchase.

© Back to the Furniture