Beschreibung:

Finn Juhl (b. Frederiksberg 1912, d. Ordrup 1989) “Barbe Bleue”. Unique oak dining / work table. Black formica top with profiled light maple rim. Light blue painted rail with four white painted drawers. Designed and made 1936 by Fritz Hansen. H. 73 cm. L. 170 cm. W. 85 cm. Barbe Bleue ! is the name of the horrific tale of a French nobleman who killed his wives one after the other. It is also the name Finn Juhl gave to his entry for a design competition in 1936, arranged by the Danish furniture maker Fritz Hansen. The results of the competition were announced in January 1937 and published in the periodical “Nyt Tidskrift for Kunstindustri” later that year. His entry was this unusual table, which also appears to be the very first referenced piece of Finn Juhl furniture that is both known to have been made and which still exists. Finn Juhl’s first pieces of furniture were generally thought to have been the ones presented by cabinetmaker Niels Vodder at the 1937 Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition, and for many people, the early years of Finn Juhl are pretty much synonymous with Niels Vodder pieces. The fact that Fritz Hansen collaborated with Juhl before Niels Vodder testifies to their importance in the history of Danish Design. This combined dining table and desk was among the winning competition entries of the 1936 Fritz Hansen design competition, taking 4th place. According to the sketch, the table was made with a top in black Bakelite, edge in profiled maple, frame of oak, and four drawers for cutlery and napkins painted white on the front and underside. The table was likely a one-off and, as such, was used as a dining table for many years by Finn Juhl himself. First in his first apartment with Fritz Hansen stick back chairs, and then from 1942 in his house in Ordrup with Palle Suenson chairs, until he later replaced it with his “Judas Table” and “Egyptian chairs”. The “Nyt Tidskrift for Kunstindustri” periodical used it for some years in its ad for new subscribers, with the phrase: “If you want an expert’s judgement… of new designs, etc.”. This table was acquired decades ago by the current owners, who were completely unaware that it was a Finn Juhl table until recently. It is not known how it ended up with the previous owners. However, it seems likely that when Juhl divorced his first wife, Inge-Marie Skaarup, it was passed to her, along with several other early pieces of Finn Juhl furniture, where it probably disappeared into oblivion at a time when Finn Juhl and his work were all but forgotten. The original sketch mentions only white drawers but no blue paint on the rail. However, the name “Barbe Bleu”, given by Finn Juhl himself to this table clearly point to the blue “beard” on the table, and inside of drawers. The paintwork does not appear to have been professionally painted, but it is also very, very old. It seems likely that it was actually painted by the young Finn Juhl himself. This lot is subject to Artist's Royalty. Artist’s Royalty In accordance with Danish copyright law, an additional royalty fee is to be paid for the purchase of works by contemporary Danish artist and some international artists who are either still alive, or who died within the last 70 years. × Read more Condition Condition report available on request. Request condition report Preview See catalog Auction Decorative art and design, 7 December 2023 Category Modern Furniture Bidding Deadline 7 December at 3:55 pm Selling 7 December at around 5:55 pm Estimate 200,000–400,000 DKK
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