Title: Early Set of Two ( 2 ) Finn Juhl Model SW96 Lounge Chairs in Teak, Oak, and Caning for Søren Willadsen, Denmark, c. 1950s
About: Expertly restored & preserved – structurally sound, original integrity maintained. To own a pair of these early-production SW96 lounge chairs is to own a genuine fragment of Finn Juhl’s legacy at its purest.
Designed in the early 1950s and first manufactured by master cabinetmaker Søren Willadsen, the SW96 remains one of Juhl’s most sculptural and intimate seating designs. Its characteristic soft, enveloping curves, dramatically shaped backrest, and beautifully proportioned teak frame perfectly illustrate Juhl’s philosophy: furniture should be built for the human body, not merely around it.
These particular examples are among the earliest known surviving production pieces made by Willadsen before the design was later licensed to France & Søn. They carry the unmistakable hand of 1950s Danish cabinetmaking: tight joinery, generous use of solid old-growth teak, and a level of hand-finishing that is almost impossible to replicate today.
The chairs arrived with beautiful time-earned patina, honest signs of use, and a few localized areas of minor structural wear. Restoration was approached with museum-level restraint: Selective consolidation and color-matched teak inlays only where structurally required and preservation (not removal) of the original aged finish wherever possible.
The result is a pair of chairs that feel alive with history yet are structurally robust and ready for daily use by the next generation of owners.
Few Finn Juhl designs communicate so directly the designer’s obsession with comfort, sculptural form, and the expressive potential of wood. The SW96 is not a “lounge chair” in the conventional sense—it is a small architectural space built for one person.
Today these chairs are offered on behalf of the original owners who have cherished them for decades.
Serious inquiries only. These do not come to market often.
Origin: Denmark
Proof: Ample Provenance - Industry Consensus
Period: 1950s
Material: Teak | Caning
State: Partial Restoration (See Details)
Condition Details: Expertly restored & preserved. Structurally sound. Original teak finish carefully maintained with only necessary interventions. New upholstery on seat and back cushions.
A true collector-grade pair in remarkable original-production form.
Style: Danish Modern | Mid-Century Modern
SKU: AM02794-RVF
---Dimensions---
Width: 29.75 in / 75.57 cm
Depth: 30 in / 76.2 cm
Height: 31 in / 78.74 cm
Seat Height: 14 in / 35.56 cm
-- Re-upholstery Option --
If you would like to have the seats reupholstered, please message us prior to checkout to discuss your options.
-- Shipping and Handling --
This shipping total in the listing is for local pickup only. If you would like to manage shipping yourself, we have several companies we will gladly recommend. If you prefer to have us manage the shipping process we ship to the US and Canada. Rates vary by location. Please message us prior to payment and checkout as you will receive an additional invoice for shipping, handling, and insurance if we manage the process for you in this transaction.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Do I get the piece(s) in the listing? Yes you can but we also source other pieces and have many others in stock if this isn't the exact piece(s) you were looking for. The piece(s) in this listing are currently available for sale as-is, restored or re-worked and will be noted in the description above. If this isn't the exact piece you are looking for or you would like this piece customized, please send us a private message and we'll do our best to meet your specific needs in sourcing or creating your dream piece(s).
Do you ship overseas? Can I manage shipping myself? Each listing includes shipping information specific to the item being sold. If our shipping service does not include your location or if you would like to manage the shipping process yourself for any other reason please message us prior to checkout to discuss your options.
Why buy ABTModern? We pride ourselves in finding truly amazing, one-of-a-kind pieces and bringing them to you, our clients! We are a small family business and take tremendous pride in doing what we love. Thank you for allowing us to do what we love! Please know we make YOU our NUMBER 1 PRIORITY throughout the entire process. It's our honor to serve you with your furniture and custom design needs.
About: Expertly restored & preserved – structurally sound, original integrity maintained. To own a pair of these early-production SW96 lounge chairs is to own a genuine fragment of Finn Juhl’s legacy at its purest.
Designed in the early 1950s and first manufactured by master cabinetmaker Søren Willadsen, the SW96 remains one of Juhl’s most sculptural and intimate seating designs. Its characteristic soft, enveloping curves, dramatically shaped backrest, and beautifully proportioned teak frame perfectly illustrate Juhl’s philosophy: furniture should be built for the human body, not merely around it.
These particular examples are among the earliest known surviving production pieces made by Willadsen before the design was later licensed to France & Søn. They carry the unmistakable hand of 1950s Danish cabinetmaking: tight joinery, generous use of solid old-growth teak, and a level of hand-finishing that is almost impossible to replicate today.
The chairs arrived with beautiful time-earned patina, honest signs of use, and a few localized areas of minor structural wear. Restoration was approached with museum-level restraint: Selective consolidation and color-matched teak inlays only where structurally required and preservation (not removal) of the original aged finish wherever possible.
The result is a pair of chairs that feel alive with history yet are structurally robust and ready for daily use by the next generation of owners.
Few Finn Juhl designs communicate so directly the designer’s obsession with comfort, sculptural form, and the expressive potential of wood. The SW96 is not a “lounge chair” in the conventional sense—it is a small architectural space built for one person.
Today these chairs are offered on behalf of the original owners who have cherished them for decades.
Serious inquiries only. These do not come to market often.
Origin: Denmark
Proof: Ample Provenance - Industry Consensus
Period: 1950s
Material: Teak | Caning
State: Partial Restoration (See Details)
Condition Details: Expertly restored & preserved. Structurally sound. Original teak finish carefully maintained with only necessary interventions. New upholstery on seat and back cushions.
A true collector-grade pair in remarkable original-production form.
Style: Danish Modern | Mid-Century Modern
SKU: AM02794-RVF
---Dimensions---
Width: 29.75 in / 75.57 cm
Depth: 30 in / 76.2 cm
Height: 31 in / 78.74 cm
Seat Height: 14 in / 35.56 cm
-- Re-upholstery Option --
If you would like to have the seats reupholstered, please message us prior to checkout to discuss your options.
-- Shipping and Handling --
This shipping total in the listing is for local pickup only. If you would like to manage shipping yourself, we have several companies we will gladly recommend. If you prefer to have us manage the shipping process we ship to the US and Canada. Rates vary by location. Please message us prior to payment and checkout as you will receive an additional invoice for shipping, handling, and insurance if we manage the process for you in this transaction.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Do I get the piece(s) in the listing? Yes you can but we also source other pieces and have many others in stock if this isn't the exact piece(s) you were looking for. The piece(s) in this listing are currently available for sale as-is, restored or re-worked and will be noted in the description above. If this isn't the exact piece you are looking for or you would like this piece customized, please send us a private message and we'll do our best to meet your specific needs in sourcing or creating your dream piece(s).
Do you ship overseas? Can I manage shipping myself? Each listing includes shipping information specific to the item being sold. If our shipping service does not include your location or if you would like to manage the shipping process yourself for any other reason please message us prior to checkout to discuss your options.
Why buy ABTModern? We pride ourselves in finding truly amazing, one-of-a-kind pieces and bringing them to you, our clients! We are a small family business and take tremendous pride in doing what we love. Thank you for allowing us to do what we love! Please know we make YOU our NUMBER 1 PRIORITY throughout the entire process. It's our honor to serve you with your furniture and custom design needs.