Grasshopper Chair

Design  Finn Juhl
Manufacturer  House of Finn Juhl
Made in  Denmark
Dimensions  W 87cm x D 101cm x H 93cm x SH 34cm
Colour & Materiality Frame: Walnut or oak; Upholstery: Fabric or leather

The Grasshopper was designed by Finn Juhl in 1938 and exhibited at Niels Vodder's stand at the guild exhibition. Two chairs were displayed alongside a mobile bar cabinet, with illustrations of exquisite cocktails hanging on the walls. This was quite a daring set-up and extravagant when compared to the otherwise "heavy" and traditional furniture that was presented at the time. However, people at the fair neither liked or understood the provocative exhibition. In order to help Niels Vodder avoid bigger loss, Finn Juhl bought the two chairs he had designed. The two Grasshopper Chairs from 1938 were the only ones to see the light of day. Until today.

Finn Juhl was not constrained by what was possible, or impossible - and only with help from master cabinetmaker Niels Vodder, Finn Juhl's rudimentary drawings were translated into physical designs. Namely the Grasshopper is, despite its apparent simplicity, exceedingly hard to construct due to its tricky angles, joints and complex shapes.

As one of the leading figures in twentieth century furniture design, Finn Juhl is responsible for introducing North America to the Danish Modern movement through his work on the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Originally trained as an architect, he began creating furniture for himself in the 1930's and soon gained widespread recognition for his organic forms and expressive treatment of wood, often taking the material past the limits of what was thought possible. Thinking with the mindset of a sculptor, his ambition was to design furniture with movement and life.