The Reading Chair | Finn Juhl | 1953

The Reading Chair from 1953 exemplifies unpretentious elegance. The chair was designed for the Danish company Bovirke, with a variation created for Baker Furniture in the United States. Distinguished by its intricate details, the chair is perfectly suited for private homes and restaurants. When dining in the Reading Chair, one will notice how seated individuals naturally rest their arms on the horizontal back piece. The frame is available in solid oak with a back piece in plywood of oak and walnut with an outer layer in walnut. Horizontal top piece in solid oak and walnut. The chair can also be ordered in a fully black-painted version or entirely in walnut, ash or oak. The seat can be upholstered in either textile or leather. Additionally, a version of the chair with a veneered seat is also available.

The Reading Chair | Finn Juhl | 1953

The Reading Chair from 1953 exemplifies unpretentious elegance. The chair was designed for the Danish company Bovirke, with a variation created for Baker Furniture in the United States. Distinguished by its intricate details, the chair is perfectly suited for private homes and restaurants. When dining in the Reading Chair, one will notice how seated individuals naturally rest their arms on the horizontal back piece. The frame is available in solid oak with a back piece in plywood of oak and walnut with an outer layer in walnut. Horizontal top piece in solid oak and walnut. The chair can also be ordered in a fully black-painted version or entirely in walnut, ash or oak. The seat can be upholstered in either textile or leather. Additionally, a version of the chair with a veneered seat is also available.

Please note that the versions shown here represent only a selection of the many available options. For a complete overview of colors and materials, please explore the material page.

Wood Type

  • Oak Dark Oil / Walnut

    Oak Dark Oil / Walnut

  • Oak Black Painted

    Oak Black Painted

  • Oak Dark Oil

    Oak Dark Oil

  • Walnut

    Walnut

  • Ash Clear Oil

    Ash Clear Oil

Upholstery

Hallingdal

  • 227

    227

  • 100

    100

  • 103

    103

  • 110

    110

  • 113

    113

  • 376

    376

  • 457

    457

  • 764

    764

  • 960

    960

  • 980

    980

Leather

  • Elegance Walnut

    Elegance Walnut

  • Vegetal Nature

    Vegetal Nature

  • Elegance Black

    Elegance Black

  • Vita

    Vita

Watercolour

  • Himalaya

    Himalaya

  • Oatmeal

    Oatmeal

  • Butterscotch Yellow

    Butterscotch Yellow

  • Cast Iron

    Cast Iron

  • Dark Conifer

    Dark Conifer

  • Fresh Sage

    Fresh Sage

  • Golden Syrup

    Golden Syrup

  • Peacock

    Peacock

  • Pumpkin Spice

    Pumpkin Spice

  • Rose Quartz

    Rose Quartz

  • Silver Azure

    Silver Azure

  • Soft Linen

    Soft Linen

Remix

  • 123

    123

  • 163

    163

  • 183

    183

  • 242

    242

  • 412

    412

  • 443

    443

  • 612

    612

  • 762

    762

  • 823

    823

  • 933

    933

Vidar

  • 152

    152

  • 182

    182

  • 222

    222

  • 443

    443

  • 472

    472

  • 582

    582

  • 633

    633

  • 723

    723

  • 1062

    1062

  • 1511

    1511

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Product information
Design:
Finn Juhl
Year:
1953, relaunched in 2015
Materials:
Frame in solid oak with a back piece in plywood of oak and walnut with an outer layer in walnut. Horizontal top piece in solid oak and walnut. The chair is also available in a fully black-painted version or entirely in walnut, ash or oak.
Upholstery:
Seat: Textile or leather
Model and dimensions:
FJ 5310
W: 52 cm D: 58 cm H: 74 cm
Seat height: 45 cm
Reading
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The Reading Chair in oak and walnut with 'Nevada' leather upholstery in the colour 'Cognac'.

The Reading Chair in oak and walnut with 'Nevada' leather upholstery in the colour 'Cognac'.

About the Reading Chair

Refined Classic

Finn Juhl's distinctive Reading Chair is both understated and beloved. The Reading Chair, which was produced in Denmark by Bovirke, is considered a timeless and versatile classic. With its clean lines and subtle details, it suits private homes as well as hotels and restaurants.

The characteristics of The Reading Chair

A Modern Classic with Refined Details

Finn Juhl designed the Reading Chair as both a dining room chair and as a reading chair. It is designed to be equally comfortable whether you choose to sit facing the front or the back. This might sound both odd and complicated, but thanks to Finn Juhl’s genius, the result was a simple, unpretentious, yet thoroughly well-designed and visually pleasing chair.

The Reading Chair entirely in walnut with 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Oatmeal'.

The Reading Chair entirely in walnut with 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Oatmeal'.

The Reading Chair at Restaurant Uformel

Restaurant Uformel is the free-spirited little brother of formel B. Located just a two-minute walk from Rådhuspladsen, it’s perfectly situated for starting your evening before heading out to explore the city.

Restaurant Uformel, Copenhagen

Finn Juhl's Reading Chair entirely in oak (dark oil) and upholstered with 'Watercolour' textile in the colour 'Himalaya'.

Organic shapes and brass details.

Finn Juhl's Reading Chair in FSC®-certified ash (clear oil).

The Reading Chair in FSC®-certified ash (clear oil). Photographed above in VITA leather from Sørensen Leather, crafted from Danish raw hides.

The Reading Chair in oak and walnut with a black contract grade leather at Restaurant Palægade.

The Reading Chair in oak and walnut with a black contract grade leather at Restaurant Palægade.

Projects & References

The Reading Chair at Restaurant Palægade

Restaurant Palægade in Copenhagen is passionate about indulgent versions of the classic Danish open-faced sandwiches, which are served for lunch. In the evening, the restaurant focuses on a sublime Danish & French experience. The restaurant opened in 2017 and is viewed as a cornerstone of the Copenhagen lunch scene. Restaurant Palægade has been rebuilt due to a fire that ravaged the premises in March 2020. The freshly rebuilt restaurant has yet again been filled with classic, handpicked pieces by Finn Juhl.

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The Reading Chair in black painted oak with 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Blue Bonnet'.

The Reading Chair in black painted oak with 'Watercolour' upholstery in the colour 'Blue Bonnet'.

Our Partners Around the World

Find a Retailer

Locate a retailer near you. Our trusted partners offer a large range of our furniture and will guide you in terms of choosing the right material and finding the perfect piece to fit your need.

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Our Partners Around the World

Production and Craftsmanship

We want to continue to shed light upon the great amount of work that goes into producing each and every piece of Finn Juhl's sculptural furniture. It is crucial that the details must be as fine and pure as if it came from the old cabinetmakers’ workshop, but our understanding of quality also includes durability. The furniture has to be so durable that the pieces can be enjoyed by people today and by generations to come. With respect for the tradition and the demand for longevity, we put only the best materials in the hands of the most dedicated and skilled craftspeople.

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