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The Pelikan chair by Finn Juhl  

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Gustaf
(@gustaf)
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27/12/2008 6:30 pm  

Rarely mentioned here on DA.

Has anyone sat in it? There is no showroom where I live, and they rarely show up in the vintage stores so I have not had a chance to try it yet. I ask because I am looking for a reading chair. I know there are lots of alternatives, many probably better suited for reading, but I have my mind set on this one.

Do you think it will work for its intended purpose?

Any input would be appreciated.


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SDR
 SDR
(@sdr)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 6462
27/12/2008 8:55 pm  

Now THERE'S
a wing chair. . .!


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whitespike
(@whitespike)
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27/12/2008 9:26 pm  

my opinion
It's very lovely. It has quirk, but not too much, like that dreadful Juhl sofa with wings. I love the legs on this chair. The legs remind me of that Aarnio pony chair, but in wood. I love that the chair feels upside down. It creates an aesthetically whimsical tension.


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Robert Leach
(@robertleach1960yahoo-co-uk)
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27/12/2008 10:04 pm  

Beautiful!
Especially in its home setting in the first pic


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Gustaf
(@gustaf)
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27/12/2008 10:29 pm  

Gentlemen, thank you for...
Gentlemen, thank you for your input. So no one has sat in it?
whitespike, you are right, it somehow feels upside down. But with just enough quirk, as you put it. That dreadful piece of furniture: are you by any chance referring to Model 57, one of my all time favorite sofas? 🙂 Those wings actually look extremely functional to me.
Robert, the first photo in my previous post is from Finn Juhl's home, which is open to the public.
All images from the manufacturer's website, see link below.
http://www.onecollection.com/


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Gustaf
(@gustaf)
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27/12/2008 10:36 pm  

Going back to the chair,...
Going back to the chair, it was designed the same year as Eames and Saarinen's Organic chair. I wonder if there was any connection, or just a coincidence that two of the earliest and most iconic organically shaped chairs were launched the same year? Or were there well known organic designs released prior to that?


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Robert Leach
(@robertleach1960yahoo-co-uk)
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27/12/2008 11:15 pm  

Hi Gustaf
I know that is the home of Finn Juhl, that's why I referred to it as the chair's home 🙂


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Gustaf
(@gustaf)
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27/12/2008 11:44 pm  

Robert, rereading your...
Robert, rereading your post I just realised that. Sorry.


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Robert Leach
(@robertleach1960yahoo-co-uk)
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28/12/2008 12:50 am  

But
I've never sat in one..
I would very much like to!


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builder (AUS)
(@builder-aus)
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Posts: 173
28/12/2008 1:17 am  

i like finn juhls, dont...
i like finn juhls, dont like the price though! AU$12000 for the sofa and AUD$8000 for the lounge chair.


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whitespike
(@whitespike)
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28/12/2008 2:21 am  

Gustaf
"I wonder if there was any connection, or just a coincidence that two of the earliest and most iconic organically shaped chairs were launched the same year?"
The "coincidence" is MoMA's Organic Furniture Competition. I know the the Eames/Saarinen design was made for that ... assuming the same could be true for Juhl.
I was referring to the model 57. I didn't mean any offense.


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Pegboard Modern
(@davidpegboardchicago-com)
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Posts: 1303
28/12/2008 3:26 am  

I have
I have sat in a pelican chair. A recent production chair of course. The reason the original vintage pelican chairs so rarely show up is because I beleive that there are less than 5 or 6 of them known to exist.
Finn Juhl's work is brilliant and I particularly love this chair. I thought that perhaps it was just my weird sensibility and aesthetic leanings. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in my appreciation for this very idiosyncratic design. I liked it before I sat in it and loved it even more after I did. It has been in my personal top ten list of designs I'd love to have.
As for whether it makes a good reading chair, I say sure, providing you are not too big or tall. It's not as large and imposing as you would expect. The scale is quite nice and it has a great seat height and pitch. There is no ottoman so you are not going to kick back and prop up your feet, but I'd think that in a corner with a floor lamp next to it and someplace to put your drink of choice, you could easily while away an hour or two in the chair.
I think it's wonderful as a functional sculpture and would look best in an open space where it can be appreciated from all sides.


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sharplinesoldtimes
(@sharplinesoldtimes)
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28/12/2008 11:59 am  

I've sat in one recently....
I've sat in one recently. They're used in the cafeteria's lounge area at the Ordrupgaard Museum who owns Finn Juhl's house (sitting 100 meters from the museum itself). I found it extremely comfortable and I'm 185 cm. high. Though if you plan on using this chair to read books and sit in it for several hours, keep in mind that there are no armrests on the Pelican chair.
A little history lesson: Only 4 chairs were originaly produced. Two in black leather and two in dark red fabric. Three of the chairs' existence is know today. One of the Pelican chairs with black leather suddenly surfaced a few years ago here in Denmark and was sold at Bruun Rasmussens Auction House for over $75.000 including buyer's fee.


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whitespike
(@whitespike)
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28/12/2008 9:03 pm  

How much does this cost in...
How much does this cost in the US?


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Robert Leach
(@robertleach1960yahoo-co-uk)
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Posts: 3212
28/12/2008 9:36 pm  

Well...
it's 3,163.00 GBP here
which at today's sorry exchange rate equals 4,628.17 USD


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