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The J39 is a masterpiece crafted from solid
wood, featuring a hand-woven seat in natural
paper cord. Designed by Børge Mogensen
in 1947, the clean lines and use of natural
materials are all signature traits that contribute
to the chair’s unwavering popularity.
While the J39 is reminiscent of Mediterranean,
Scandinavian, and Shaker furniture, its simple
expression and use of materials reflect
Mogensen’s personal quest for design purity.
Given its versatility and appeal to virtually
anyone in any environment, the J39 has
been in continuous production since its
introduction in 1947. The design itself is a
further development of Kaare Klint’s Church
Chair, which he created for Bethlehem
Church in Copenhagen in 1936. And with
Børge Mogensen’s interpretation, the world
got a chair that had a far better comfort
than the Church Chair and, despite the
clear inspiration from the American Shakers,
managed to be his own completely.
Everything about the chair is in keeping with
Mogensen’s vision to create high-quality,
functional furniture that could make
modernism design popular for all walks of
society. He used established cabinetmaker’s
principles often found in traditional furniture
from around the world. In this case, inspiration
primarily came from the Shaker movement,
captured in the chair’s basic silhouette and
unadorned aesthetic.
A modern essential to treasure for decades
to come.