Poul Kjærholm - Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches Hong Kong Thursday, May 25, 2023 | Phillips
  • Provenance

    E. Kold Christensen, Copenhagen, 1977
    Private Collection, Copenhagen
    Phillips, Hong Kong, '20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Day Sale', 26 November 2018, lot 91
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Literature

    Dansk Kunsthaandværk, vol. 39, no. 1, 1966-67, cover
    Dansk Kunsthaandværk, vol. 40, no. 5, 1967-68, p. 142
    Noritsugu Oda, Danish Chairs, San Francisco, 1996, p. 187
    Christoffer Harlang, Keld Helmer-Petersen and Krestine Kjærholm, eds., Poul Kjærholm, Copenhagen, 2001, pp. 118-19
    Michael Sheridan, The Furniture of Poul Kjærholm: Catalogue Raisonné, New York, 2007, pp. 142-45

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present 'Hammock' lounge chair is an elegant furniture piece that embodies the essence of Scandinavian design. Created by the Danish designer Poul Kjaerholm, this work has a distinctive elongated form that effortlessly exudes sophistication. The seat is woven from cane, generating a beautifully light and airy aesthetic. The seat's subtle curves provide ergonomic and relaxing support while maintaining an overall minimalist appearance. The slender frame which supports the seat is made from stainless steel, imbuing modernity into the design, and elevating it beyond mere functionality and into the realm of sculptural art. Steel was a material that Kjaerholm found particularly pleasing and thought deserved the same reverence that was typically awarded to wood. He commented: "Steel’s constructive potential is not the only thing that interests me; the refraction of light on its surface is an important part of my artistic work. I consider steel a material with the same artistic merit as wood and leather".

    The understated design and meticulous craftsmanship of this lounge chair allows it to seamlessly integrate into various interior settings, from modern and contemporary spaces to more traditional or eclectic environments. Its thoughtful material combination and remarkable construction ensure its enduring relevance within the world of modern Scandinavian furniture.

    Poul Kjaerholm was born in Denmark in 1929 and initially trained as a carpenter before studying at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts in Copehagen. His designs were heavily influenced by his fascination with industrial materials and manufacturing techniques. Kjaerholm believed that good design should be rooted in functionality, with an emphasis on simplicity and craftsmanship. His designs are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and other museum collections in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany.

354

'Hammock' lounge chair, model no. PK 24

cane, stainless steel, leather
86 x 153 x 66.5 cm. (33 7/8 x 60 1/4 x 26 1/8 in.)
Designed 1965, produced 1977. Manufactured by E. Kold Christensen, Denmark.

Estimate
HK$90,000 - 120,000 
€10,600-14,200
$11,500-15,400

Sold for HK$114,300

Contact Specialist

Anastasia Salnikoff
Head of Mid-Season Sales
+852 2318 2014
anastasiasalnikoff@phillips.com
 

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches

Hong Kong Auction 25 May 2023