Bouclé & Mahogany High Back Armchairs by Jacob Kjær, Denmark, 1940s, Set of 2

This very rare pair of armchairs was designed and produced by Jacob Kjær in Denmark in the late 1940s. The sumptuous design is marked by the distinct combination of curved and straight lines of the seat. The high back with the buttoned backrest and the refined texture of the bouclé fabric add to the elegance of this model. The slightly tapered legs are in solid mahogany wood. The generous dimensions, high back and sprung seat make this a very comfortable pair of chairs.

The chairs have been fully reconditioned and newly upholstered in a light grey bouclé fabric by Larsen. This super soft fabric with a woolly handle has a two-tone speckled appearance which gives the fabric an interesting texture and depth. The legs have been restored and refinished.

Jacob Kjær (1896–1957) was a Danish furniture designer and master cabinetmaker. Kjær received training as a cabinetmaker in the workshop of his father who was also a furniture maker. After completing his training in Berlin and Paris, he exhibited works at the Barcelona World Exhibition in 1929. Characterized by simplicity, his designs drew on the finest materials which, unusually for his day, he crafted himself. Inspired by classical English Style, his clean, graceful designs are modern in interpretation. He did much to enhance the reputation of the Danish furniture industry as president of the Cabinetmakers Guild from 1952 to 1957 and of the Arts and Crafts Committee for Exports from 1944 to 1957. Apart from producing his own designs, Kjær's experience as a master cabinetmaker also led him to produce furniture for other iconic Danish designers at the time, including Grete Jalk, Ib Kofod Larsen, Børge Mogensen, Ole Wanscher and Flemming Lassen.