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Have you seen this version of Finn Juhl FD133 "spadestolen"?  

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madruga
(@madruga)
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17/12/2023 7:01 pm  

I am publishing this question here because there are authentic experts in Finn Juhl furniture. Recently, I bought a Finn Juhl FD 133 "spadestolen" at auction. It is a very strange piece because it has a different support  (backrest) than all the ones I have seen. I had doubts about the authenticity but the auction´s expert sent me a photo with the original France & Son stamp. They assure that the chair is original. I wanted to know if someone had seen anything similar.

1702836106-H21162-L356257038_original.jpg

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madruga
(@madruga)
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17/12/2023 7:02 pm  

The backrest is: 

 

1702836155-H21162-L356257045_original.jpg

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madruga
(@madruga)
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17/12/2023 7:03 pm  

Another perspective

1702836227-H21162-L356257046_original.jpg

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madruga
(@madruga)
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17/12/2023 7:05 pm  

And this is the original mark "France & Sons" on the seat of the chair

1702836319-sello.jpg

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madruga
(@madruga)
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17/12/2023 7:10 pm  

I have reviewed a France & Sons catalog published in 1958 and there is ad  of this chair but with vertical slats. That is, somehow, the firm sold this type of backrest structure. 

 

1702836651-s-l1600.jpg

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Herringbone
(@herringbone)
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19/12/2023 8:36 am  

I haven’t seen this particular feature but France and Søn did change the designs over time. Especially when Poul Cadovius took over the company and they moved production in the late 60s, many details were rearranged, sometimes spare parts from one design would be reused for other designs as far as I remember. So it doesn’t surprise me to see a new version of the chair. Did you notice that there‘s also a version with a structurally sound backrest? 

"People buy a chair, and they don't really care who designed it." (Arne Jacobsen)


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Kyle Barrett
(@kyle-barrett)
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21/12/2023 1:23 am  

Looks custom to me, especially since the slats fit nicely into the semicircles where the rubber loop coils would have wrapped around. The slats themselves look like they may not be teak, and they also don't look uniform, which makes me think they weren't machined. Not to mention they're nailed in. I'm struggling to think of any France and Son furniture that was joined by a nail!


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Herringbone
(@herringbone)
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21/12/2023 10:40 am  

@kyle-barrett So happy to see you back.

"People buy a chair, and they don't really care who designed it." (Arne Jacobsen)


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tktoo2
(@tktoo2)
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21/12/2023 2:28 pm  

Agree with @kyle-barrett that the chair has been modified from original and with @herringbone that it's nice to see Kyle after such a long while!

@madruga, I'd be talking to the auctioneer about a refund at this point. The chair frame itself is original, but with the original loop spring supports removed and wood slats added as rigid replacements. If I'm not mistaken, it seems that this is also the case with the seat support as well as the back.

Maybe @cdsilva would share his thoughts on this?


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Kyle Barrett
(@kyle-barrett)
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23/12/2023 9:10 pm  

You guys are too kind for someone who dropped off the face of the earth! Pleasure to be back if only for a bit 🙂


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cdsilva
(@cdsilva)
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Posts: 2050
30/12/2023 6:58 pm  

I agree with the assessment that the wood slats are not original.

And I agree it is nice to see Kyle back.


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madruga
(@madruga)
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Joined: 11 months ago
Posts: 6
28/01/2024 5:59 pm  

Thank you very much to all for your comments.

I checked

Thank you for your email.
 
I checked that the chair is original but it has been modified. The solid wood slats on the seat and backrest are later additions.  The chair originally had rubber coated metal springs stretched into position on the seat and backrest. I assume that someone lost these springs, could not find a replacement and decided to come up with their own solution.
 
The image showing the Spadestolen with solid slats (5th photo) is depicting the copies of the design that were being sold in the United States at the time.

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