Designed 1963
Manufactured by France & Son
Denmark
1960s
695,000 ISK
A distinguished example of the ‘Diplomat’ desk, Model FD-951, designed by Finn Juhl (1912–1989) in 1963 and produced by France & Son, Denmark. Crafted in richly figured teak, the desk presents a rectangular top supported by a refined frame with slim, tapering legs joined by a discreet apron. Two suspended banks of drawers—each fitted with understated brushed metal handles—highlight Juhl’s talent for combining functional clarity with sculptural elegance. The floating expression of the drawers and the lightness of the frame embody Juhl’s organic modernism while ensuring practical usability. Conceived originally for use in embassies and government offices, the Diplomat series epitomized Danish postwar modernism’s international reach. The model FD-951 became one of Juhl’s most commercially successful designs, deployed in Danish embassies across the globe throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Its enduring appeal lies in the balance of dignity, practicality, and understated sophistication.
Finn Juhl, a leading figure of Scandinavian modernism, trained as an architect at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1930–1934) and worked under architect Vilhelm Lauritzen before establishing himself internationally. Unlike many contemporaries, Juhl approached furniture as functional sculpture, drawing inspiration from the human body and organic forms in nature. His work is distinguished by daring joinery, expressive shapes, and the ability to merge craftsmanship with an almost architectural sense of proportion. Juhl’s designs—including furnishings for the UN Headquarters in New York and the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C.—cemented his reputation as one of Denmark’s most influential designers of the 20th century.
Wear due to age and use. Keys included.
Length 190cm | Width 95cm | height 72cm
Key included