Iconic FD-118 chair by Grete Jalk for France & Daverkosen from the early 1950s.
This is the earliest edition of this chair from around 1951.
It is of superb quality and is a very useful size.
A mid century Danish design classic, and this is a lovely example.
Solid, sturdy furniture, will last forever...
See photos and movie clip for good condition, please.
FREE UK mainland ground floor delivery.
We use an independent company so delivery arrangements must be made with the driver.
Turn around on items is generally 7-14 days depending on location and the drivers run of deliveries
Alternatively you are more than welcome to collect from us.
Any questions please let me know.
Thank you for your interest and time.
Please note that the description here is based on our own extensive online research and other similar items sold on other specialist marketplaces. We do not have 100% authenticated evidence of the provenance of these, the item has been priced accordingly and buyers should satisfy themselves with the products prior to purchase.
Please note: The majority of our items are in their original state when sold and, consequently, may fall outside the scope of the Fire & Safety Regulations Act of 1988 – such items, in particular soft furnishings, can only be used as decorative pieces, works of art or for commercial use and export unless they have been newly re-upholstered and comply with the current regulations.
The same applies to certain items which contain pieces of glass that may not comply with current safety standards and therefore, as with antiques, should not be relied upon to meet current regulatory safely standards.
As with most glass products, sensible precautions should be adopted which would include, but is not limited to, never placing hot objects on glass surfaces and understanding that (due to their age) glazed units, glass shelves and surfaces are unlikely to be made from safety glass and will thus have limited strength and weight-loading capacities.
Please note that the description here is based on our own extensive online research and other similar items sold on other specialist marketplaces. We do not have 100% authenticated evidence of the provenance of these, the item has been priced accordingly and buyers should satisfy themselves with the products prior to purchase.
Important delivery info:
We aim to deliver your order in 10 days time frame but we do not use ParcelForce, Evri or other parcel couriers only independent hard working man and van drivers.
Our furniture offered for sale is bulky and can not be flat pack and boxed.
No tracking is available as man and van drivers do not offer that option.
Our drivers will keep you posted on estimated delivery time frame via their mobile phones so delivery contact mobile number is a must.
Delivery can take longer to be done if delivery address is far from our depot.
About the maker from the web:
France & Daverkosen, previously known as France & Son, was one of Denmark´s greatest furniture makers, working with some of the biggest names from a time when Danish design conquered the world. The company originally took its name when Mr. France moved from the UK to Denmark and met his partner, cabinet maker Mr. Daverkosen. The company later became France & Son when Julian France followed in his father´s footsteps. The company was sold to Poul Cadovious in 1964 and continued to operate under the name CADO.
About designer from the web:
Recognized as an important Danish modernist designer—working at a time when women were a rarity in the design world—Grete Juel Jalk was born in Copenhagen in 1920. She trained in cabinetmaking at Copenhagen's Design School for Women between 1940 and 1942; she went on to complete her education at the Danish Royal Academy under highly influential designer Kaare Klint. In 1946, she won first prize at the annual Cabinetmaker's Guild Competition; five years later, she received wide acclaim for her designs exhibited at the 1951 Milan Triennale.
Around 1953, Jalk opened her own studio and began to develop furniture designs for some of the best known Danish manufacturers, like Poul Jeppesen, Fritz Hansen, Glostrup, and France & Søn. Inspired by the Eameses' and Aaltos' organic, molded furniture, Jalk continuously experimented with new materials and production techniques.
Her iconic GJ Chair—also known as the Shell Chair—for Poul Jeppesen (1963) is a staggering example of postwar design innovation. This teak-veneered, molded plywood piece features a distinct origami-like shape achieved through an intricate bending and laminating process; the complexity of the fabrication in those early years limited its manufacture to only a few hundred. Nevertheless, it was snapped up by New York's Museum of Modern Art the year of its release. In 2009, the GJ Chair went back into production with Danish manufacturer Lange, and, unsurprisingly, the original midcentury editions remain highly sought after on the secondary market.
Jalk is known for her thoughtful designs that are well adapted to users' needs and that embrace societal and technological progress. Through her long career, she gained a reputation in both Denmark and abroad for designs that are economical—both in terms of material and cost—and ideal for the evolving, modern home. In 1947, she created a “self-supporting women’s den” for single, working women, which included an all-in-one sofa bed, storage space, and desk. Her Watch and Listen Unit (1963) was intended to store and display—as opposed to hide—television sets, record players, and stereo systems. Her storage units, coffee tables, and cabinets are typically designed to serve many purposes, just like the multifunctional living rooms in which they were intended. Her minimalist sofas and lounge chairs feature clear yet comfortable forms—perfect for cost-effective mass production.
Beyond her design work, Jalk edited the design magazine Mobilia (1956-62 and 1968-74), as well as the encyclopaedic, four-volume book, Forty Years of Danish Furniture Design (1987). In 1974, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned Grete Jalk to curate a traveling exhibition on Danish design. Her foldable exhibition space was a huge success in 25 regions. She contributed immeasurably to the international reputation of Danish design, and her work can be found in private and public collections around the world.
Jalk passed away in 2006.