Poul M. Volther

The furniture architect Poul M. Volther (1923-2001) was one of the leading lights in Danish design. In 1950, having completed his training as a cabinetmaker, he took over the position as head of FDB Møbler’s design studio from the furniture architect Børge Mogensen. Poul M. Volther quickly demonstrated his unique talent for developing high-quality furniture intended for mass production. In keeping with the spirit of FDB Møbler, he was involved in designing some of the most iconic pieces of furniture of the time, which ended up furnishing many of the new and modern homes being built during the advancement of the welfare state in the decades following the Second World War. His simple and functionalist idiom was rooted in good craftsmanship. Flexible furniture designed for everyday living. Furniture which was not designed for its looks, but for its comfort. One of his best-known pieces is the J46 spoke-back chair from 1956, which was a graceful new take on a modern kitchen chair. The J46 is one of the best selling-chairs for Danish homes throughout history. Poul M. Volther was head of design at FDB Møbler until 1955, after which he continued to design furniture, including the iconic Corona chair. He later became a lecturer at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen.