PK22 armchair Poul Kjaerholm

"PK22" armchair by Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980), 1956. Structure in brushed satin stainless steel, seat and backrest in leather (or caning/canvas depending on version) Edition Fritz Hansen, Denmark Dimensions: W 63 cm × D 63 cm × H 71 cm (seat H 35 cm) An absolute pinnacle of Scandinavian minimalism, this "PK22" armchair embodies the quest for an ideal form that drove Poul Kjærholm throughout his career. The result of a five-year research process initiated in 1951 from the diploma project of the Copenhagen School of Applied Arts, it represented, upon its release in 1956, an immediate commercial and critical success — a rare double accolade in the history of design. The architecture of the seat rests on a spring steel structure, whose continuous zigzag profile — divided into distinct elements connected by mechanical screws, a radical technical innovation for the time — gives the chair its unmistakable silhouette. Two side supports in brushed satin stainless steel hold the seat and backrest, covered with a canvas underlayer ensuring support, then dressed in leather, canvas, or natural rattan caning. Kjærholm, trained as a cabinetmaker before embracing steel, elevates this industrial material to the nobility of wood: "nothing to add, nothing to subtract, " according to the very definition of good design. The low seat height (35 cm) and the subtle inclination of the backrest define a posture of absolute serenity.