Pelican Chair

CONCEPT
In no other design of his is Finn Juhl’s fascination for surrealism more apparent than in the Pelican Chair. Out of all of his many designs, the Pelican Chair was probably the one furthest ahead of its time. When it was presented at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in 1940, it stood out with its unusual shape and sturdy legs. Finn Juhl normally named his furniture numbers after the year in which they were designed, but over time the nickname "Pelican" stuck to the chair.

Very few were manufactured and the chair was almost forgotten until we rediscovered and relaunched the chair in 2001. The characteristic soft and organic shape is almost like a body holding a body. When you sit down, the chair practically gives you a friendly hug. Like many of Finn Juhl’s later designs, the chair offers several comfortable ways to sit.

The sculptural chair fits seamlessly into most modern interior styles and works particularly well with the Pelican Table and its close relative, the Poet Sofa from 1941.


The Pelican Chair is produced in two versions - with or without buttons. It is manufactured with a cushion and a handsewn upholstery in fabric or leather. The legs are available in oak, walnut and black painted.