Story
E. Kold Christensen stands as one of the most distinctive and emblematic workshops in the history of Danish furniture. Its purpose was singular: to produce and champion the work of one designer — Poul Kjærholm. In this sense, EKC operated not merely as a manufacturer but as a patron, forging a relationship between designer and producer that more closely resembled the world of fine art than industrial production.
Its founder, Ejvind Kold Christensen, had already demonstrated an exceptional talent for recognizing genius during his tenure as sales director at Carl Hansen & Son, where he played a key role in introducing the young Hans J. Wegner to Holger Hansen. His instinct for identifying visionary talent would shape the course of Danish design. In the mid-1950s, after being introduced to Kjærholm, he immediately recognized the originality of his ideas and committed to creating a dedicated production environment solely for him. Thus in 1956, EKC was founded as a workshop that defied the norms of the furniture industry — a place built for one designer and one artistic vision.
Kjærholm distanced himself from the wood-centric approach that dominated Danish modernism, embracing steel as a “natural material” with architectural potential. While often associated with coldness, steel fascinated him for its ability to refract light, animate space, and create a dialogue between hardness and visual weightlessness. By combining steel with organic materials such as leather and woven cane, he developed a new design language. Works like the PK22 lounge chair and PK24 chaise longue embody this poetic interplay of materials and structure.
Though small in size, EKC functioned as a highly specialized and elite network of craftsmen: master metalworkers, leather specialist Ivan Schlechter, and PP Møbler for wood components. Together they ensured uncompromising quality. Production was never oriented toward mass manufacturing; instead, each piece was the result of precise material selection and an exacting fabrication process. Kjærholm’s designs thus transcended furniture and became architectural objects.
Strategically, EKC was an anomaly. Most manufacturers aim for diversification and growth, yet Christensen chose to devote his company entirely to one designer — a patronage model unprecedented in industrial design. When Kjærholm passed away in 1980, Christensen immediately closed the workshop, stating that he could not continue without his creative partner. From a business standpoint, this decision was illogical; from an artistic standpoint, it was entirely pure.
This uncompromising vision is what elevates EKC today. Original EKC-stamped specimens continue to command reverence among collectors, often valued differently from later reproductions by Fritz Hansen. They endure not only as furniture but as evidence of a rare relationship built on trust, ideals, and artistic integrity.
The legacy of E. Kold Christensen speaks to the extraordinary outcomes that arise when conviction meets creative genius. Its heritage remains a “fusion of steel and soul,” continuing to resonate across the landscape of 20th-century design history.
About
Year: 1956–1980
President: Ejvind Kold Christensen
Designer: Poul Kjærholm
Place: Copenhagen
History
1949 — While at Carl Hansen & Son, Ejvind Kold Christensen introduces Hans J. Wegner to Holger Hansen, a pivotal moment in Danish furniture history.
1951 — Establishes SALESCO with Wegner and Holger Hansen, pioneering a designer-led sales strategy.
1952 — Poul Kjærholm begins studies at the Royal Danish Academy, developing early concepts for integrating steel into furniture.
1955 — Prototypes the PK1 dining chair, showcasing an emerging aesthetic centered on steel and woven cane.
1956 — Establishes the E. Kold Christensen workshop. Launches the PK22 lounge chair, marking the formal beginning of the collaboration.
1957 — PK22 wins the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale, solidifying Kjærholm’s international reputation.
1958 — Introduces the PK33 stool, exploring geometric reduction and tripod structural logic.
1959 — Releases the PK61 coffee table, merging a steel frame with stone or glass tabletops.
1960 — Presents the PK80 daybed, notable for its seamless leather upholstery developed with Ivan Schlechter.
1961 — Develops the PK9 dining chair, renowned for its saddle-stitch leather crafted using equestrian techniques.
1961 — Launches the PK91 folding stool, expressing minimalism through collapsible geometry.
1963 — Introduces the PK54 dining table, featuring maple extension leaves produced by PP Møbler.
1965 — Unveils the PK24 chaise longue, often described as a “hammock chair,” symbolizing the poetic union of steel and cane.
1967 — Releases the PK27 sofa, emphasizing horizontal architectural composition.
1968 — Launches the PK31 modular sofa, celebrated internationally for its refined proportional system.
1970 — Develops the PK55 desk, articulating the balance of a steel frame with a wood work surface.
1971 — Introduces the PK77 coffee table, a study in structural clarity and planar expression.
1975 — Kjærholm is appointed Professor at the Royal Danish Academy, expanding his influence as an educator.
1976 — Releases the PK20 lounge chair, characterized by organic forms in leather and cane.
1980 — Poul Kjærholm dies. Christensen ends all workshop activities in response.
1982 — Manufacturing rights for the Kjærholm collection are transferred to Fritz Hansen, ensuring the continuation of the legacy.
Furniture
・PK1 Dining Chair
・PK9 Dining Chair
・PK11 Armchair
・PK20 Lounge Chair
・PK22 Lounge Chair
・PK24 Chaise Longue
・PK27 Sofa
・PK31 Sofa
・PK33 Stool
・PK54 Dining Table
・PK55 Desk
・PK61 Coffee Table
・PK77 Coffee Table
・PK80 Daybed
・PK91 Folding Stool